The number of confirmed deaths from the Coronavirus surpassed 200,000 in the U.S. on Saturday. A new milestone that has exceeded several projections as the country continues to struggle to stop the spread of the virus. Daily coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose to the highest level in over two weeks on Friday.
Dr. Deborah Brix, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, warned of the risks associated with COVID-19 back in March."If we do things together, well, almost perfectly, we can get in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 fatalities," Birx told NBC's Today show. Sadly, that prediction came true with no end or suppression in sight.
As of Saturday, the official death toll reached 203,702 according to John Hopkins University. Experts say if the rate of mortality continues at the same projected pace 415,000 people could die from COVID-19 by Jan. 1, 2021.
News of the U.S. mortality rate comes as the World Health Organization issues a stern warning to Europe that a second wave is coming. The rate of positive cases among Europeans continues to surge out of control to the highest rates in over four months. Regional Director for Europe at the W.H.O., Hans Kluge, told reporters 300,000 new infections were reported across Europe last week alone and weekly cases had exceeded those reported during the first peak in March.
The world's Coronavirus death toll is approaching 1 million, which is believed to be much less than the actual total. More than 945,000 people have died since the coronavirus emerged in China last year.
President Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that the administration is committing to giving every American a COVID-19 vaccine by April 2021.