US life expectancy dropped a year in first Covid wave, officials say

• CDC estimates show minority groups show steepest declines
• Expert says I would expect these numbers would get worse'

Life expectancy in the United States dropped a staggering one year during the first half of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic caused its first wave of deaths, health officials are reporting.

Minorities suffered the biggest impact, with Black Americans losing nearly three years and Hispanics, nearly two years, according to preliminary estimates released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).