The life expectancy rate in the U.S. has dropped by one year, that’s the most it’s dropped since World War II. According to the CDC the average life span in the US is now 77.8 years compared to 78.8 in 2019. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community and Population Medicine Dr. Benjamin Springgate said the COVID pandemic is the main reason for the decrease. “Not only have we seen the overall life expectancy drop by a year but in those populations such as African Americans and Hispanics, who have higher death rates we’ve seen we’ve seen the life expectancy rates drop even more,” said Springgate.