THE United States coronavirus death toll is projected to hit 567,000 – even with a vaccine rollout – and could reach 731,000 if states ease restrictions.
A current projection map by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that by April 1, 2021, a total of 567,195 people will have died from Covid-19.
The frightening data estimate appears to be slightly lower with a rapid vaccine rollout being implemented – leading to approximately 12,000 less deaths.
A rapid vaccine rollout scenario “assumes that vaccine distribution will scale up to full delivery capacity” and at its fastest rate possible.
However, if social distancing mandates are eased across the country with no re-imposition, the death total is expected to reach 731,151.
According to the IHME, if mask use “increased immediately to 95 percent and social distancing mandates were re-imposed at eight deaths per million” – the death toll would be at its lowest rising estimate of 519,464.
Currently, approximately 74 percent of people across the US are correctly following mask protocol, the IHME states.
The projections come as the US has seen 18,655,773 positive Covid cases and 329,118 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
The University of Washington’s IHME also had other map projections in regards to daily deaths, daily infections and testing, hospital resource use, mask use, and social distancing.
According to The COVID Tracking Project, more than 120,000 people spent Christmas Eve in the hospital – marking a new record of hospitalizations.
Approximately 1.91million Covid tests were taken on Thursday, 202,579 people tested positive for the virus, and the daily deaths totaled 2,938, the tracking project states.
The project also revealed that the Midwest has seen a dramatic drop in Covid-19 cases and the Northeast is just starting to see a slightly reduced number.
It is unlike the South and the West, which are both are seeing a rise in positive cases.
Earlier this week, Dr Anthony Fauci said the US may “return to some form of normality” by the middle of 2021 and new mutant virus “should not impact Covid-19 vaccines.”
Fauci made the comments on after receiving the Moderna jab on live TV.
The infectious disease expert’s comments followed Pfizer and BioNTech’s announcement – revealing they will supply the US with 100million extra doses of their coronavirus vaccine with a second agreement.
Pfizer and BioNTech hope to deliver all of the 100million Covid-19 doses by July 31.
Meanwhile, many counties in the United States have been labeled as “sustained Covid” hotspots.
On December 24, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania praised frontline workers and Covid scientists for their “miracle” vaccines in a heartwarming Christmas video.
In the clip released on Christmas Eve, the first couple gave one of their final public messages together while in the White House.
Trump said the US is “delivering millions of doses of a safe and effective vaccine that will soon end this terrible pandemic and save millions and millions of lives.”
