Coronavirus death Coverage

Flu season in NC is serious, but COVID still causes many more deaths

In North Carolina this autumn, 78 people, including two children, have died of the flu. For comparison, 78 people died from COVID-19 during just the first week of flu season, Oct. 8-14.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL investigative data reporter

COVID Cases Surge, but Deaths Stay Near Lows

For two years, the coronavirus killed Americans on a brutal, predictable schedule: A few weeks after infections climbed, so did deaths, cutting an unforgiving path across the country.

Benjamin Mueller, New York Times

Where death rates rose the most during the pandemic

The United States had more deaths above normal levels during the pandemic than most other wealthy countries, according to data released by the World Health Organization this month. U.S. deaths were 15% above normal -- a number surpassed by only four other large countries in the same income group: Chile, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania.

Denise Lu and Eleanor Lutz, New York Times

How Australia Saved Thousands of Lives While COVID Killed 1 Million Americans

If the United States had the same COVID death rate as Australia, about 900,000 lives would have been saved.

Damien Cave, New York Times

Electronic death certificate reporting system helps NC identify additional 1,146 COVID deaths

Before January, North Carolina was one of only two states still relying on paper death certificates.

CDC: Deaths among vaccinated, but non-boosted, people on the rise

The unvaccinated continue making up a large share of those dying from the virus. But more and more people who are vaccinated are showing up in the data and they're some of the most vulnerable.

In private, in public, families cope with COVID deaths

Natalie Beyer, a member of the Durham Board of Education, turned her public grief into a lesson as her colleagues considered lifting mask mandates last week.

'Science comes from God:' Durham school board member shares grief, lesson of father's COVID death

Natalie Beyer, a member of the Durham Board of Education, turned her public grief into a lesson as her colleagues considered lifting mask mandates last week.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

At least 5.2 million children have lost a parent or caretaker to Covid-19, study estimates

At least 5.2 million children globally have lost a parent, grandparent or family member who helped care for them to Covid-19, a new study says.

By Jen Christensen, CNN

Covid-19 is killing more people now than during most of the pandemic. Here's who's still at risk

More than 2,000 Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the United States each day for the past month.

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN

'Having to grow up instantly:' Teen struggles to pay bills, manage farm after losing only parent to COVID

Over 3,000 children in North Carolina who have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19, according to data published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

U.S. has far higher Covid death rate than other wealthy countries

Two years into the pandemic, the coronavirus is killing Americans at far higher rates than people in other wealthy nations, a sobering distinction to bear as the country charts a course through the next stages of the pandemic.

Benjamin Mueller and Eleanor Lutz, New York Times

COVID-19 was leading cause of death among U.S. police officers in 2021, reports says

For the second year in a row, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death for U.S. law enforcement officers, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Derrick Bryson Taylor, New York Times

Fact check: How do fentanyl overdoses compare to deaths from COVID-19, other causes?

The opening paragraph of the Dec. 19 Facebook post said, "It was announced this week that more people, aged 18-45, died of Fentanyl overdoses in 2020 than covid, car accidents, cancer, + suicide combined." PolitiFact checks the claim.

Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact reporter

Washington State Senator Died at 52 After COVID Infection

State Sen. Doug Ericksen, a Republican who had led efforts to oppose Washington state's COVID-19 emergency orders and vaccine mandates, has died after his own battle with the illness. He was 52.

Mike Baker, New York Times

91% of NC COVID deaths in 2021 were among those not fully vaccinated

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday told WRAL Data Trackers that more than 90 percent of people who died of COVID-19 deaths in the state this year were not fully vaccinated.

WRAL Data Trackers

Children, Coping With Loss, Are Pandemic’s ‘Forgotten Grievers’

WASHINGTON — Courtney Grund, whose husband died of COVID-19 in August, got an alarming text message last week: Her 16-year-old son was “talking about self-harm,” according to the message, sent by his friend. She quickly signed him up for grief counseling, she said in a tearful interview, using her maiden name to protect his privacy.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times

'Please go and get a vaccine in his honor': Family reflects on brother's passing from COVID-19

"There is no reason for him to be dead," said David Lawrence of his brother, Stephen Lawrence.

Family hopes Garner man's death spreads COVID-19 awareness

The brother of a man who died from a severe COVID-19 infection is using his obituary to share an important message.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

Fact-check: Biden chief of staff says he inherited slow job growth, '4,000' COVID deaths per day

President Biden's Chief of Staff Ron Klain said the administration inherited gains of "50,000 jobs a month. We're now finally back to 500,000 jobs a month. We inherited a country where 4,000 people a day were dying from COVID. That's now down 75%." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact reporter

Durham second-grader never had chance to get vaccine, but her family says other children do

Aurea Yolotzin Soto Morales, known to friends and family as "Yoshi," was the first child in North Carolina to die of COVID-19. Now, her family is urging other parents to get their children vaccinated so they won't have to have to face the loss of a child.

Family of Durham 7-year-old who died of COVID-19 urges parents to vaccinate their children

Aurea Yolotzin Soto Morales, known to friends and family as "Yoshi," was the first child in North Carolina to die of COVID-19. Now, her family is urging other parents to get their children vaccinated so they won't have to have to face the loss of a child.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter

Dia de los Muerto a painful reminder of loved ones lost to the pandemic

For thousands of families, Dia de los Muertos was a reminder of the pain they've suffered in the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Families in North Carolina cope with pandemic deaths on Dia de los Muertos

For thousands of families, Dia de los Muertos was a reminder of the pain they've suffered in the past two years due to COVID-19.

Keenan Willard, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

Triangle Hispanic community honors those who died from COVID-19 during Day of the Dead

A Day of the Dead celebration was held in Raleigh on Sunday focusing on remembering those who lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic. At the celebration, people were able to get vaccinated against the virus and be tested for HIV. Organizers say that the Day of the Dead is a time for the Hispanic community to honor and celebrate the lives they have lost.