US coronavirus: Influential model projects 135,000 deaths in US, nearly double its last estimate

CNN — An influential coronavirus model often cited by the White House is now forecasting that 134,000 people will die of Covid-19 in the United States, nearly double its previous prediction. “When you tell people, ‘Hey, you can go to bars, you can get your nails done, you can go to a restaurant,’ those numbers are going to go up.” The novel coronavirus’s incubation period – or the time from exposure to developing symptoms – ranges from two to 14 days, according to the CDC, and the virus can even spread among people who show no symptoms at all. “We’re adding more presumptive deaths as well, and we’re seeing a lot of outbreaks in the Midwest, for example.” He said multiple variables impact infections – like heat, testing capacity and population density – but “the most important one is mobility.” Right now, he said, “we’re seeing an increase in mobility that’s leading to an increase in mortality, unfortunately, in the United States.” Coronavirus has killed more than 68,000 people in the US and infected more than 1,180,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP/AFP via Getty Images Chicago reaches 1,000 deaths Chicago, the nation’s third most-populous city with 2.7 million residents, has reached the “sad milestone” of 1,000 coronavirus deaths, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. And I find that that’s my job right now, and that’s what every governor and every mayor in the United States of America’s job should be right now, is saving lives and reducing the spread of the virus.” White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci also warned that lifting measures prematurely could lead to a rebound of the virus that could put the US in the “same boat that we were a few weeks ago.” And a second round of the virus, he said, is inevitable.