News Is COVID-19 worse than the 1918 Spanish flu? Study shows deaths in New York quadrupled in early months August 13, 2020 Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Comments Off on Is COVID-19 worse than the 1918 Spanish flu? Study shows deaths in New York quadrupled in early months The study compares the two months since the first recorded death of COVID in New York City with the deadliest two months of the 1918 calamity.