COVID-19 deaths in the US have reached the same levels as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did – approximately 675,000.
The US population a century ago was just one-third of what it was today, meaning the flu had to cut a much bigger and lethal swath. However, the COVID-19 crisis is a tragedy in its own right given the scientific advances and medical awareness/access today.
Similar to the Spanish flu, the coronavirus may never be completely eradicated. Instead, scientists hope for it to become a mild seasonal bug with herd immunity through vaccination and repeated infection. Unfortunately, that will take time.
This optimistic scenario is not yet within the grasp of the US, with the pandemic still holding the US and other parts of the world hostage.
US deaths are running at over 1,900 a day on average, the highest level since early March.