Coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the report published this Wednesday, COVID-19 caused about 345,000 deaths in the US, equivalent to 11.3% of total deaths and more than those registered by other diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia.

In total, the US registered more than 3.3 million deaths during 2020, according to data from the National System of Vital Statistics, which collects annual mortality statistics in the country.

Heart disease and cancer alone killed more people in the US than COVID-19 in 2020, with 690,882 and 598,932 deaths respectively.

Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, highlighted this Wednesday during a press conference that infections continue to increase in the United States, so she reiterated not to lower our guard and continue to follow the recommendations for the use of masks and social distancing.

“This is a critical moment in our fight against the pandemic. As we see the cases continue to increase, we cannot allow ourselves to lower our guard. We are so close, so close to returning to the daily activities that we miss so much, but we have not yet achieved it, Walensky said.

The CDC director recalled that since the beginning of the pandemic, the coronavirus has affected “disproportionately” African American and Latino communities.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky pleaded with Americans to continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in an effort to prevent a fourth wave of cases.

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