- New projections from a leading coronavirus model predict up to 731,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 by April 1 if states begin to ease mandates and a vaccine isn’t rolled out as planned
- But more than 45,000 lives could be saved if the vaccine is distributed faster than planned and there could be 49,000 fewer deaths from the virus with universal mask-wearing
- The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said the nation’s mask-wearing is now at 74 percent
- With a vaccine rollout and continued mandates, the IHME still projects a death toll of 567,195 by April 1
- Nationwide spike appears to be falling, with a decline in new cases and hospitalizations in the Midwest
- Yet the country still managed to break a new record for hospitalizations on Christmas Eve
- More than 120,000 Americans with COVID-19 are now spending Christmas in hospital
- More than 18.6million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and there have been 329,022 deaths
By FRANCES MULRANEY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
New projections from a leading coronavirus model predict that up to 731,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 by April 1 if states begin to lift their mandates around masks and social distancing.
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) released its latest projections for COVID-19 deaths, showing that the death toll could reach 731,151 without a vaccine rollout and other health measures.
But more than 33,000 lives could be saved if the vaccine is distributed as planned, and 45,000 Americans saved if a swifter vaccine rollout is achieved.