On Dec. 17, 2020, JAMA reported that the daily U.S. mortality rate for COVID-19 deaths was equivalent to the September 11, 2001, attacks, which claimed 2988 lives,1 occurring every 1.5 days, or 15 Airbus 320 jetliners, 2 each carrying 150 passengers, crashing every day.

The failure of the public and its leaders to take adequate steps to prevent viral transmission made the nation more vulnerable, allowing COVID-19 to become the leading cause of death in the U.S.