Vital records document the birth, death, marriage and divorce of every individual. A more centralized system in the US could help public health researchers better study pandemics and disease.
A girl views the body of her father, who died of COVID-19, while mourners who can’t visit in person are onscreen.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images News via Getty Images
Health statisticians keep careful tabs on how many people die every week. Based on what’s happened in past years, they know what to expect – but 2020 death counts are surging beyond predictions.
The pandemic leaves its mark in the number of lives ended.
Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images
Health statisticians keep careful tabs on how many people die every week. Based on what’s happened in past years, they know what to expect – but 2020 death counts are surging beyond predictions.