The Biden administration at its new health briefings on Wednesday said it is projecting about 90,000 more deaths in the next four weeks.
“I know this is not news we all want to hear, but this is something we must say so we are all aware,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “If we are united in action we can turn things around.”
The CDC’s latest forecast means the country will have a cumulative 479,000 and 514,000 deaths by Feb. 20, Walensky said.
Concerns remain that new variants of the virus from such places as Brazil and the United Kingdom might further spread infection.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that there should be enough vaccines for the 300 million Americans by the end of the summer. He warned, however, “It’s going to take months for us to turn things around.”
Some U.S. states have recently slightly eased some public health restrictions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday lifted a stay-at-home order for much of the state, allowing certain businesses such as hair salons to reopen with modifications, and restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining. But some restrictions such as a ban on indoor worship services remain.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that “the holiday surge is over” and lifted certain business restrictions across the state, adding that New York City restaurants would be on the path to reopen soon.