This is with keeping restrictions in place.
Paris (AFP) - COVID-19 could lead to more than 80,000 deaths in the US and overwhelm hospital capacity nationally as soon as early April even if social distancing measures are respected, new research showed Thursday.
The US death toll for the pandemic has already soared past 1,000, with 68,000 confirmed infections.
Forecasters at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington's School of Medicine analysed the latest COVID-19 data at a local, national and international level.
These include hospitalisation and mortality rates, as well as patient date in terms of age, gender and pre-existing health problems.
Specifically, they looked at the time lag between the first fatal cases and public interventions such as shuttering schools and businesses.
They then looked at each American state's ICU bed and ventilator capacity.
The analysis warned that based on current trends, demand for both would far exceed capacity for COVID-19 patients as early as the second week of April.
During the epidemic peak -- also set for some point in April -- as many as 2,300 patients could die every day, according to the IHME models.
This was the case even if the population adhered to strict social distancing measures.
"Our estimated trajectory of COVID-19 deaths assumes continued and uninterrupted vigilance by the general public, hospital workers, and government agencies," said Christopher Murray, IHME director.
"The trajectory of the pandemic will change -- and dramatically for the worse -- if people ease up on social distancing or relax with other precautions."
The analysis estimated that approximately 81,000 people in the US will die from the virus over the coming four months.
Estimates ranged between 38,000 and more than 160,000.
It forecast that a total of 41 US states will need more ICU beds than are currently available and that 12 states may need to increase their capacity by 50 percent or more to accommodate patient needs.
The economic shutdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic caused an unprecedented 3.3 million people to file for unemployment benefits last week alone.
"We hope these forecasts will help leaders of medical systems figure out innovative ways to deliver high-quality care to those who will need their services in the coming weeks," said Murray.
Not too many links there to the NYT or the WP, much less any respectable less "progressive" media outlets.
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I'm guessing that number will balloon next autumn.
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A large percentage also don’t get the shot.
by Chris Crowley. The premise is through exercise the body can be convinced it is not aging. Most of us as we near retirement think we should slow down. If instead of slowing down we pick up the pace the body adapts, the result being a younger you. One of the best books I have ever read.
I feel like a 40 year old — and do my best to stay reasonably fit despite working long hours.
Age is a relative concept.
Few lower forms of life populate the planet.
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Will the economy completely crater into a depression if we maintain the social distancing?
Will the economy rebound quickly in the event that there is a continuing upward curve in infection and death? In other words is 80K or more potential deaths acceptable to find out?
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Maybe it's all reaction to the trillions being thrown at the economy. Or maybe someone is following Matt Levine's formula for becoming a zillionaire:
1) Discover treatment for Corona
2) Buy the shit out of the market
3) Announce your treatment for Corona
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The societal impacts of this though, who knows.