Although US Covid-19 numbers may be slowing experts project tens of thousands more deaths in next 3 months

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Sun, 2021-02-21 11:13 — mike kraft

US Covid-19 numbers may be slowing but experts project tens of thousands more deaths in next 3 months Covid-19 trends may be encouraging in recent weeks -- but a new forecast offered a grim reminder the US is not in the clear. Christina Maxouris, CNN CNN

(CNN)Covid-19 trends may be encouraging in recent weeks -- but a new forecast offered a grim reminder the US is not in the clear.

More than 497,500 Americans have died of Covid-19.

Another 91,000 Americans are projected to lose their life to the virus by June 1, the latest forecast from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows.

That devastating projection comes as plummeting Covid-19 numbers across the US have prompted several local and state leaders to loosen restrictions -- at a time experts warn is critical to remain cautious and keep practicing safety measures.

"The most uncertain driver of the trajectory of the epidemic over the next four months is how individuals will respond to steady declines in daily cases and deaths," the IHME team wrote. "More rapid increases in mobility or reductions in mask use can easily lead to increasing cases and deaths in many states in April."

The spread of Covid-19 variants are also threatening to cause another surge of cases -- particularly, the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously warned of the variant's projected "rapid growth" across the US in early 2021, adding it will likely become the predominant variant in the country by March.

The IHME team wrote that while the B.1.1.7 variant currently likely accounts for less than 20% of infections, that number could jump to 80% by late April.

It's why experts say the US should also ramp up its testing: not just to track infections and antibodies, but variants as well. ...

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