"US COVID-19 Deaths to Increase by 220,000 More Within the Year"

Prospects of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at Washington University School of Medicine
Annual total deaths expected to reach 410,000
"Nationwide mask usage could reduce deaths by half"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] It is projected that the number of additional deaths due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the United States this year could increase by more than 220,000.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine forecasted in its newly updated COVID-19 prediction model on the 4th (local time) that the cumulative number of deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. will reach 410,000 by January 1 of next year.

IHME explained that this means an additional 225,000 deaths will occur from now until the end of this year. According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of the 4th, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. stands at 187,052.

The institute also observed that by December, daily COVID-19 deaths could approach the record high of 3,000.

IHME stated, "Due to seasonality (winter) and the public's reduced vigilance, the daily death toll in the U.S. is expected to reach nearly 3,000 by December." A daily death toll of 3,000 far exceeds three times the recent daily death count of around 850.

IHME warned, "If a herd immunity strategy is pursued, in other words, if the government does not intervene further from now until January 1, the cumulative death toll could rise to 620,000."

The institute projected that if nearly everyone wears masks, additional deaths could be reduced by more than half, and with increased mask usage, additional deaths would decrease by 30%.

The institute pointed out that COVID-19 has surpassed cancer to become the second leading cause of death in the United States. The only disease causing more deaths than COVID-19 is heart disease.

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