Key points from article :
U.S. life expectancy fell by a year and a half in 2020, the largest one-year decline since World War II.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for almost 74% of the overall life expectancy decline.
Drug overdoses pushed life expectancy down, particularly for Whites.
"Rising homicides were a small but significant reason for the decline for Black Americans," - Elizabeth Arias, the report's lead author.
Hispanic Americans had the largest decline.
Life expectancy drop in various groups, was reported as follows: Blacks, 3 years; Whites, 14 months; men, 2 years; women, 1 year.
Coronavirus was responsible for 90% of the decline among Hispanics, 68% among white people and 59% among Black Americans.
The CDC estimated life expectancy of 74 years, 6 months for boys vs. 80 years, 2 months for girls.
More than 80% of last year's COVID deaths were people 65 and older.
Experts said, it could take years for life expectancy to bounce back after this drop.
