CDC predicts 130,000 US coronavirus deaths by July 4, with more new cases as states reopen
June 12, 2020 / By Dakin Andone, CNN
(CNN) – The US could suffer 130,000 coronavirus deaths by July 4, according to a projection released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And Covid-19 cases could rise this summer as states reopen, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases said during a conference call with reporters.
“If anything, we must be overprepared for what we might face later this year,” said Dr. Jay Butler. “Getting the flu vaccine will be more important than ever, as flu and Covid-19 could be circulating together as we move into the fall and winter months.”
More cities and states have reported increasing rates of new coronavirus cases per day as the nationwide total number of cases passed 2 million this week.
According to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University, 19 states have increasing case rates, several of which have seen record or near-record highs.And for the first time, rising caseloads have led some officials to delay phased re-opening plans.
Months into the pandemic, more than 113,800 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins, with about 1,000 deaths reported each day.
“We know the pandemic is not over,” Butler said.
