This chart outlines the death totals and the average deaths per day for each COVID-19 wave in New York City. Shaded colors show the city's individual waves. The boundaries between waves were defined as the day with the lowest seven-day case rate between the waves. In terms of fatalities, about 1,800 people have lost their lives over since vaccine mandates were lifted in early March 2022. That's about 10 people per day. During the winter omicron wave, the daily death rate was closer to 40 people, and it was 131 deaths during the city's first wave.