evidence: More than 1 million people in the United States have died from COVID-19. It is a somber number. Older adults have been hit especially hard–744,825 people over age 65 have died as of May 18. In at least 90% of the 1 million deaths, COVID-19 has been identified as the underlying cause of death. In the remaining 10%, COVID-19 is listed as a contributing cause of death. Pneumonia, an infection of the lung often caused by the COVID-19 virus, has been present in more than half (517,256) of COVID-19 deaths. Hypertension (182,893) and diabetes (150,078) have been the most common pre-existing conditions in COVID-19-related deaths. [...] - Of the 1 million COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S., 641,305 occurred after vaccines became available.