Life expectancy in the United States declined by a year-and-a-half during 2020, according to health officials.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data showed the average US lifespan dropped from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77.3 years in 2020.
Researchers said the pandemic was mostly to blame for the decline, with record-high drug deaths also noted as a contributing factor.
The data comes amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases across the country.
Hospital rates are also on the rise with daily deaths now almost 50% higher than last week, according to officials.
More than 600,000 Americans have died so far during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 drop is the sharpest annual decline seen since World War Two.
