Genuine answer: Because the article has no substantial information about Covid-19.

“ A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year, a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far.”

What part of this contradicts the title?

It's irrelevant to every other sentence in the article.

The article is not about Covid-19 at all. The article is about a three year trend in drug overdoses. Covid-19 is not mentioned anywhere else: just a half-sentence insinuation that it is relevant, one that couldn't be evidenced - not even with one quote from any single medical professional (if it could be, it would be).

Why is Covid-19 in the headline? Only so that exactly this happens. That's the clickbait; you fell for it.

Totally agree.

When something goes against the Covid narrative... no matter how scientifically and statistically accurate.. the Covid restriction proponents call it click bait or claim it's spreading false information.

One is not allowed to rationally consider alternatives to the prevailing narrative that flattening the curve and Corona virus restrictions were effective and a good solution while putting millions into poverty was unfortunate but necessary.

Gotta crack some eggs to make an omelet the saying goes and these deaths are possibly the eggs that got cracked to support Corona restrictions.

Sure it was the restrictions and not the deaths and illness and insecurity. That makes sense.