Increased Mortality Related to COVID-19, and Not Influenza

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on December 3, 2020, indicates 12.8% of the deaths occurring during the week ending November 28, 2020 (week #48), were due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC).

Among the 2,094 PIC deaths reported for week #48 by the NCHS, 1,397 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, and 3 listed influenza, indicating that the current increase in PIC mortality is due primarily to COVID-19, and not influenza.

Furthermore, there were (0) influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to CDC during week #48, and none confirmed throughout the 2020-2021 flu season.