OREANDA-NEWS. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the worst decline in life expectancy in the most developed countries since World War II, according to a study by scientists from the University of Oxford, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

The study was conducted in 29 countries, including most of Europe, the United States and Chile.

According to scientists, the coronavirus has led to a sharp reduction in life expectancy, mainly due to high mortality in older age groups.

"The scale of casualties in 2020 has not been observed in many Western European countries (Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal) since World War II," the study authors note.

According to scientists, in the United States, life expectancy among men has decreased by 2.2 years, in Lithuania - by 1.7.

The World Health Organization plans to reopen an investigation into the origin of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Reported by The Wall Street Journal.

As noted by its representatives, there is not much time left to solve this problem. WHO will assemble a team of 20 people, which will include experts in biosecurity and laboratory safety, as well as experts on animal diseases.