Final answer:
The United States, Brazil, and India were the top three countries with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths by the end of 2020, influenced by political leadership and public health measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The top 3 countries with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths up to the end of 2020 were the United States, Brazil, and India. The United States led the world with nearly 350,000 deaths. Brazil and India followed, with both of these countries experiencing elevated death rates due to the virus. Political leadership and response to public health measures played a significant role in how these countries managed the crisis. In particular, the United States faced challenges related to a reduction of experts in key positions, inaction leading to equipment shortages, and inconsistent policies, which were major causes for the widespread of the virus and the extraordinary number of deaths.