Even though the United States ended its COVID-19 public health emergency in May 2023, the virus has not gone away.
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that COVID-19 continues to make millions of people sick and cause thousands of deaths each year.
From October 2022 to September 2023, researchers estimated that 43.6 million people in the U.S. got sick from COVID-19. Out of those, about 10 million saw a doctor, 1.1 million had to go to the hospital, and more than 101,000 people died.
The following year, from October 2023 to September 2024, there were an estimated 33 million illnesses, 7.7 million medical visits, 879,100 hospital stays, and 100,800 deaths.
Most of the severe cases happened in people 65 years and older. This group made up less than 18% of the total U.S. population but accounted for nearly half of all COVID-19 cases, nearly two-thirds of outpatient visits, over two-thirds of hospitalizations, and more than 80% of all COVID-related deaths.
COVID-19 continues to put pressure on the health care system, especially during winter months when other respiratory illnesses like flu and RSV are also spreading.
Since case reporting to the CDC ended in 2023, it has become harder to track how many people are getting sick. Many people who have symptoms don’t get tested or don’t seek medical care, which means that official numbers are likely lower than the real totals.
To make their estimates, researchers used advanced statistical models. They relied on data from the COVID-NET network, which includes information from 89 counties across 12 states—about 10% of the U.S. population. More than 94,000 people were included in the 2022–2023 study period, and over 72,000 were included for the 2023–2024 period.
The study also shows a big gap in prevention and treatment. In 2024, only 18% of adults had received a recent COVID-19 vaccine. Among people living in nursing homes, only 30% had received an updated shot.
When it came to treatment, fewer than half of older adults got outpatient antiviral medicine, even though this can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
One of the study’s warnings is about the danger of assuming the threat is over. Without regular national reporting, people may believe COVID-19 is no longer a serious issue. But the numbers show otherwise.
COVID-19 is still making millions of people sick and killing thousands every year. Vaccines and treatments are still available and can make a big difference, especially for older adults and people with health conditions.
This study reminds us that we need to stay alert and keep up with prevention efforts like vaccination and early treatment. Just because the emergency is over doesn’t mean the danger is gone.
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The study is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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