WASHINGTON (US) – As many as 300,000 Americans could die from coronavirus infections by Dec. 1, according to health experts of the University of Washington on Thursday. However, they said if everyone wears masks without fail in public places, 70,000 lives could be saved.
The predictions come from the university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Infectious diseases experts of the White House have warned that major cities in the country could have new coronavirus hotspots if officials are not vigilant.
“We’re seeing a rollercoaster in the United States. It appears that people are wearing masks and socially distancing more frequently as infections increase, then after a while as infections drop, people let their guard down,” said Dr Christopher Murray, director of the IHME.
The tally of fatalities in the country stands at more than 159,000, the highest in the world. There are close to 4.9 million known cases in the US.
According to the IHME, the number of infections is coming down in earlier epicentres of Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. But cases are witnessing a rise in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Virginia.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field