Bereaved Families Are ‘Secondary Victims of COVID-19’

Losing jobs, routines, and social interaction compound grief in a significant way, warn experts

Losing a loved one is painful. Losing them amid the isolation and uncertainty of COVID-19 can make it worse.YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

Every day, the nation is reminded of COVID-19’s ongoing impact as new death counts are published. What is not well documented is the toll on family members.

New research suggests the damage is enormous. For every person who dies of COVID-19, nine close family members are affected, researchers estimate based on complex demographic calculations and data about the novel coronavirus.