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The CDC predicted that COVID-19 could cause more than 62,000 deaths over the next month in light of the latest spike in cases.
It is possible to see between 36,000 and 62,000 additional deaths from coronavirus during the next four weeks. In the week that ends February 5 there could be between anywhere from 10,000 to 31,000 additional deaths.
“This week’s national ensemble predicts that the number of new COVID-19 deaths is likely to increase over the next four weeks,” the CDC said in an outlook updated Wednesday.
Forecasts at the stateand territory levels forecast that 31 states and territories will see an increase in the number of deaths reported over the next month. In total, 23 modeling groups contributed predictions to the CDC’s “ensemble” forecast this week.
According to the national forecast between 18,000 to 48,000 new hospitalizations are expected to be reported by February 4. The average for seven days of hospital admissions is around 20,000 per day, which is an increase of around 33 percent over the previous week. On Friday, more than 157,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the nation according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the most recent information from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. reported more that 1,900 deaths on Thursday and more then 12,000 during the week. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 88,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.
Public health officials are still monitoring the current outbreak of Omicron variant infections will impact hospitalizations and deaths and deaths, as well as the Delta variant.
“While we are beginning to see evidence that Omicron is less severe and that people who are infected will require hospitalization less frequently It is important to note that Omicron is still much more transmissible that Delta,” Rochelle Wilensky, MD, CDC director declared at a press conference on Wednesday.
The seven-day average of COVID-19 deaths is about 1,600 per day, which is an increase of approximately 40% over the previous week. The majority of these deaths are likely due to the Delta variant, she said.
“We have seen…the mortality rates for Omicron are down by 91 percent. She said that we will need to monitor the deaths over the next few weeks to see the effect of Omicron on mortality rates. “Given the sheer volume of cases, we could also see deaths related to Omicron. However, I’m sceptical that the deaths that we’re seeing currently are from Delta.”
Sources
CDC: “COVID-19 Predictions: Deaths, Updated Jan. 12 2022.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “HHS Protect Inpatient Bed Dashboard.”
Johns Hopkins University: “COVID-19 Dashboard.”
White House: “Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response team and Public Health Officials Jan. 12, 2022.”
