The US officially passed the milestone of one million known COVID-19 deaths this week, with Americans now dying of the virus at a rate of 300 people per day according to the New York Times.

That loss is almost impossible to comprehend just in its sheer magnitude. Still, the increasing politicization of the COVID death toll in American society makes it even more difficult to grapple with and some are looking to history as a guide.

For more, KCBS Radio news anchor Jennifer Hodges spoke with Gary Landerman,  Professor of American Religious History and Cultures at Emory University.