Covid has wiped out years of progress on life expectancy, finds study

Pandemic behind biggest fall in life expectancy in western Europe since second world war, say researchers

The Covid pandemic has caused the biggest decrease in life expectancy in western Europe since the second world war, according to a study.

Data from most of the 29 countries - spanning most of Europe, the US and Chile - that were analysed by scientists recorded reductions in life expectancy last year and at a scale that wiped out years of progress.