Key model projects 567,000 coronavirus deaths in US by April

WASHINGTON - Roughly 567,000 people could lose lives to COVID-19 across the United States by April 1, 2021, researchers have said.

According to the latest projections from the model on COVID-19 run by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), by April 1, 2021, 33,200 lives will be saved in the country by the projected vaccine rollout while if rapid rollout of vaccine is achieved, 45,000 lives will be saved compared to a no-vaccine scenario.

Also, under its mandates easing scenario, the model projects 731,000 cumulative deaths on April 1, 2021.

"Daily deaths are expected to rise into mid-January and then begin declining if state governments impose mandates on gatherings, bar and restaurant openings, and other major locations for transmission," the IHME said.

"Daily deaths in the absence of concerted government action can reach over 5,000 by mid-February," it added.