Orange County’s first coronavirus death was one year ago; the toll is still climbing

Orange County’s first coronavirus death was one year ago; the toll is still climbing

Andrew Noymer, an [associate] professor of public health at UCI who specializes in pandemic mortality, said looking back at one year of pandemic data has laid bare how some communities are disproportionately impacted by contagious diseases. … “In the end, higher (socioeconomic status) people who we know live longer lives in general also are less affected by COVID mortality,” Noymer said. …  If the spread remains as slow as it is now, the year ahead looks promising, he said. “The most severe phase of the epidemic is behind us.”