If it feels like the world has mostly “moved on” from Covid-19, you are not imagining it. Masks are rare, offices are full again, and headlines have shifted to other crises. Yet new research from scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a sobering reality: between 2022 and 2024, Covid-19 kept killing roughly 100,000 Americans every year. That is far fewer deaths than the darkest days of 2020–2021, but still enough to make Covid a leading cause of death in the United States.


In this guide, we will unpack what this new study actually found, what it means for your day-to-day life in 2026, and how you can lower your risk without living in constant fear. The goal is not to scare you—it is to give you clear, evidence-based information so you can make calm, informed decisions for yourself and the people you care about.


Microscopic illustration of the coronavirus particle
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, continues to circulate and cause severe illness and deaths in the United States.

“Covid-19 has transitioned from an acute crisis to a persistent health burden. It is no longer front-page every day, but it has not gone away.”
— Epidemiologist, interpretation of current CDC findings

Covid-19 in 2026: A Persistent, Not Past, Threat

According to the CDC scientists’ analysis highlighted by Gizmodo, Covid-19 caused around 100,000 deaths every year from 2022 through 2024. While exact yearly totals vary, that level of mortality places Covid among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., comparable to or exceeding deaths from conditions like diabetes or kidney disease in some years.


As of early 2026, Covid activity fluctuates with new variants and seasonal patterns. Vaccines, prior infections, and treatments have substantially reduced the risk of death and severe illness for many people, but the virus continues to:

  • Cause serious illness and hospitalizations, especially in older adults and those with underlying conditions.
  • Contribute to excess deaths beyond “official” Covid counts (for example, heart attacks triggered by infection).
  • Leave some people with lingering symptoms known as long Covid, affecting daily function and quality of life.


What the New CDC Study Actually Found

The study summarized in the Gizmodo report was conducted by CDC researchers who examined national mortality data from 2022–2024. Their findings can be distilled into a few key points:

  1. Average of ~100,000 Covid deaths per year: Although dramatically lower than the peak of the pandemic, this death toll remains “disturbingly” high for a disease that is now largely vaccine-preventable.
  2. Deaths are concentrated but not exclusive to high‑risk groups: Older adults (especially over 65) and people with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, obesity, or immune suppression bear the brunt of severe outcomes—but younger, otherwise healthy people are not completely exempt.
  3. Vaccination and prior infection reduce but do not erase risk: Breakthrough infections can still lead to hospitalization or death, particularly in people whose immune protection has waned.
  4. Social and geographic inequities persist: Communities with lower access to health care, lower vaccination uptake, crowded living conditions, or frontline jobs continue to see disproportionate impacts.

Multiple independent analyses—including CDC provisional mortality data and peer‑reviewed studies—support the conclusion that Covid remains a leading infectious cause of death in the U.S. through the mid‑2020s.


Healthcare worker reviewing Covid statistics on a digital screen
Ongoing analysis of mortality data shows Covid-19 remains among the top causes of death in the United States.


Who Is Most at Risk of Severe Covid-19 in 2026?

Not everyone faces the same risk from Covid-19. Understanding where you fall on the risk spectrum can help you personalize your precautions instead of following one-size-fits-all advice.


Higher‑risk groups

  • Adults aged 65 and older, especially over 75.
  • People with chronic conditions such as:
    • Heart disease or history of stroke
    • Chronic lung disease (e.g., COPD, severe asthma)
    • Diabetes or chronic kidney disease
    • Obesity (particularly higher BMI levels)
    • Cancer or conditions requiring immune‑suppressing medications
  • People who are immunocompromised, including organ transplant recipients and some with autoimmune conditions.
  • Residents of long‑term care facilities.

Moderate risk groups

Middle‑aged adults (for example, 40–64) with no major medical problems generally face lower risk than older adults but still higher risk than children or young adults. Risk in this group climbs with:

  • Multiple mild‑to‑moderate conditions (e.g., high blood pressure plus overweight).
  • Long time since last vaccine or infection.
  • High exposure environments (healthcare, public‑facing jobs).

Lower risk is not zero risk

Children, teens, and otherwise healthy young adults are at substantially lower risk of dying from Covid, but severe outcomes still occur, including rare complications and long Covid. Even mild infections can be disruptive for families, work, and school.


“Individual risk is a combination of age, health status, vaccination history, and exposure. The goal is not perfection—it is stacking the odds in your favor.”
— Infectious disease specialist

How Updated Covid Vaccines Help—and Their Limits

Vaccination remains the single most powerful tool we have for preventing severe Covid-19, hospitalization, and death. By 2026, vaccines have been updated multiple times to better match circulating variants.


What the evidence shows

  • Strong protection against severe disease: Studies from the CDC and independent researchers consistently show that people who are up‑to‑date on Covid vaccines are much less likely to be hospitalized or die compared with those who are unvaccinated or overdue for a booster.
  • Protection against infection is partial and wanes: Vaccines reduce your chance of getting Covid and passing it on, but this protection fades over months, especially with new variants.
  • Boosters restore protection: Updated booster doses raise your antibody levels and refresh immune protection, which is particularly important for older adults and people with chronic conditions.


Practical vaccine checklist

  1. Check your last Covid vaccine date—if it has been many months, ask whether a newer dose is recommended.
  2. If you are over 65 or have a chronic illness, stay especially current with boosters.
  3. Plan vaccination ahead of higher‑risk seasons (often fall/winter) or before travel or big gatherings.
  4. Keep a record (digital or paper) of your doses to share with healthcare providers.

Nurse administering a vaccine to a patient in a clinic
Staying up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccination significantly lowers the risk of hospitalization and death, especially in older adults.

Everyday Strategies to Reduce Your Covid Risk Without Pausing Your Life

Many people feel stuck between two extremes: pretending Covid no longer exists, or feeling like they must avoid all social contact to stay safe. In reality, there is a middle path—layered protection that lets you live your life while meaningfully lowering your risk.


Layer 1: Vaccination and timely treatment

  • Stay up‑to‑date with Covid vaccines (and flu shots) as recommended.
  • Know in advance where you can get tested quickly if you develop symptoms.
  • If you are at higher risk, talk now with your clinician about antiviral medications so you know how to access them within the first few days of illness.

Layer 2: Smart masking, not constant masking

High‑quality masks (like N95, KN95, or KF94) remain effective tools, especially in higher‑risk situations:

  • Use them in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, particularly if local transmission is high.
  • Consider masking in healthcare settings or when visiting high‑risk loved ones.
  • Keep a couple of masks in your bag or car so you can choose to use them when it feels right.

Layer 3: Ventilation and air quality

  • Open windows and doors when possible to increase fresh air.
  • Use portable HEPA air cleaners or DIY filters in frequently used rooms.
  • Move gatherings outdoors when weather allows, or choose larger, less crowded indoor spaces.

Layer 4: Testing and staying home when sick

  • Use rapid tests when you have symptoms or before visiting vulnerable people.
  • If you test positive or feel unwell, stay home when you can and follow current public health guidance for isolation.
  • Let close contacts know so they can take precautions.


A Real-World Example: One Family’s 2025 Covid Strategy

Consider a blended household in 2025: two working parents in their 40s, one teenager, one grade‑school child, and a grandparent in her late 70s with heart disease who visits most weekends.


After one severe Covid wave in their city, the family felt exhausted by ongoing precautions but also worried about the grandmother’s health. They sat down with her cardiologist and developed a simple plan:

  • Everyone stays current on Covid and flu vaccines.
  • The grandmother uses a high‑quality mask in crowded indoor spaces and on public transport.
  • The family runs a HEPA air purifier during visits and opens windows when weather allows.
  • Before each planned visit, if anyone has symptoms, they test; if someone is sick or tests positive, they reschedule or visit by video.

Over time, these habits became routine—not a source of fear, but part of how the family shows care for one another. They still travel, celebrate holidays, and attend school and work in person, but they adjust their layers of protection when risk is higher.


Multi-generation family spending time together at home
Many families now balance togetherness with simple, sustainable Covid precautions to protect older or medically vulnerable members.

Common Obstacles—and How to Work Around Them

If you find yourself thinking, “This sounds good in theory, but it is hard in real life,” you are far from alone. Here are some frequent challenges people face in 2026 and practical ways to navigate them.


“I am tired of thinking about Covid.”

  • Shift from crisis mode to maintenance mode—a few simple habits you revisit a couple of times per year.
  • Focus on routines that serve multiple purposes, like improving indoor air quality, which also helps with allergies and other infections.

“My work does not support staying home when I am sick.”

  • Use available sick leave when you can and mask at work if you must be present while recovering (following current guidelines).
  • Advocate, when possible, for more flexible remote options and better sick‑leave policies—these changes protect the whole workplace.

“Tests and masks are expensive.”

  • Watch for community programs, pharmacies, or local health departments offering free or low‑cost tests and masks.
  • Use resources strategically, such as testing before visiting someone at high risk rather than for every minor concern.


Visual Snapshot: Covid-19 Risk Layers in 2026

While a full interactive infographic cannot be embedded here, you can think of your Covid-19 protection as a series of overlapping circles:

  1. Core circle – Vaccination: Your baseline defense against severe illness.
  2. Second circle – Treatment access: Knowing when and how to get antivirals if you test positive.
  3. Third circle – Environment: Ventilation, air filters, and choosing outdoor or less crowded spaces when possible.
  4. Outer circle – Situational behaviors: Smart masking, testing, and temporarily modifying plans during surges or before seeing vulnerable people.

The idea is not perfection; it is layering enough protection to substantially lower risk, tailored to your life and health.


Combining vaccines, treatment access, ventilation, and smart masking provides layered protection against severe Covid-19.

Moving Forward: Calm, Informed, and Compassionate

The new CDC research highlighted by Gizmodo is a reminder that Covid-19 is still with us. Around 100,000 deaths per year between 2022 and 2024 is not a minor problem—it is a continuing public health burden. At the same time, we are in a very different place than in 2020. We have vaccines, treatments, and far more knowledge about how this virus spreads and whom it harms most.


You do not have to choose between ignoring Covid and living in isolation. By understanding your risk, staying current on vaccination, improving your indoor air, and using masks and tests strategically, you can meaningfully lower your chances of severe illness while still participating in work, school, and community life.


Consider taking one small step this week:

  • Check your Covid vaccine status and schedule an appointment if you are due.
  • Pick up a box of rapid tests for your household.
  • Open the windows and run an air purifier when friends or family come over.

These are modest actions, but across millions of people, they add up—to fewer hospitalizations, fewer long‑term complications, and fewer lives cut short. That is not about panic; it is about care—for yourself, your loved ones, and your wider community.


If you have questions about your personal risk or the latest recommendations, reach out to a trusted healthcare provider—they can help you translate the big numbers into a plan that works for your life.