US Coronavirus: More than 90,000 Americans could die from Covid-19 in the next three weeks, shows the CDC forecast

US Coronavirus: More than 90,000 Americans could die from Covid-19 in the next three weeks, shows the CDC forecast

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Another 92,000 are expected to die from the virus over the next three weeks, according to a set forecast published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Pennsylvania, officials said the number of hospitalizations is almost doubling its peak during the spring. The Louisiana governor said earlier this week that the state was seeing a “huge increase” in infections and hospitalizations. And in Arizona, officials on Tuesday reported Covid-19’s hospitalization record and ICU numbers.

Hundreds of thousands of infections are added to the country’s count every day, with the United States adding more than three million new infections reported since the beginning of the month.

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In Los Angeles County, about one in three residents has been infected with the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to data published by county officials. Outbreaks have increased in the workplace, as well as in schools and day care centers, they said.

Echoing warnings from other leaders, LA officials added that “they have not yet fully seen the effect of the broadcast between Christmas and New Year.”

And with all eyes now on the nation’s capital before Inauguration Day, cases in Washington DC have never been higher. At the moment, the average is more than 320 new cases every day – a jump of about 38% over the previous week. DC has reported a total of more than 32,600 cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, about 10% of which were added in 2021.

States are expanding groups eligible for vaccination

So far, more than 29.3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been distributed across the country and more than 10.2 million Americans have received their first dose, according to CDC data.

And some experts have encouraged states to open up vaccine eligibility to more groups, to help speed up vaccine administration.

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In New Jersey, residents age 65 and older and residents aged 16 to 64 with certain chronic health conditions can now apply for vaccinations, officials announced on Wednesday. California has also expanded its eligibility guidelines to include residents aged 65 and over. A press release from the state health department added that health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities remain California’s top priority for vaccines.

“There is no higher priority than delivering these vaccines efficiently and equitably as quickly as possible to those facing the most serious consequences,” said Governor Gavin Newsom in a statement. “Individuals aged 65 and over are now the next group eligible to start receiving vaccines. For those who are not yet qualified for vaccines, their time is coming ”.

The ads follow similar ones made by state leaders, including Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, who earlier this week said residents aged 65 and over or those with pre-existing medical conditions can make appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations.

“My main priority is not to try to fight this pandemic with increasingly strict orders,” said Reeves. “It is improving the distribution of the vaccine more and more, and that is our focus now.”

Mass vaccination centers being opened

And by expanding the list of who can be vaccinated, states are creating more options from where residents can get their vaccines.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is working on a plan to use Yankee Stadium as a vaccination site, the mayor announced on Wednesday.

“This plan is underway,” he said, adding that the city will release more details when the plan is completed.

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De Blasio’s announcement came a day after he and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said a 24-hour vaccine mega site would be installed at Citi Field in Queens later this month.

In Hawaii, officials said on Wednesday that they are opening two new Covid-19 mass vaccination sites, that they hope to be able to vaccinate between 3,000 and 4,000 people a day in a few weeks.

And in California, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is now Orange County’s first “super” Covid-19 vaccination site. Hundreds of cars lined up for its opening on Wednesday, CNN-affiliated KCAL said.

The site will be able to vaccinate more than 7,000 people a day, said Andrew Do, acting chairman of the county council of supervisors at a news conference on Wednesday.

See how pharmacies will help

Pharmacies will also play a key role in helping to administer vaccines.

On Wednesday, the head of one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains expressed optimism that he will soon be able to give up to one million doses of vaccines a day.

Drugstore chains want to help as nation struggles to vaccinate people against Covid

“We are very hopeful that the federal program will open soon and open more direct distribution to pharmacies across the country, which will open up access,” said CVS Health Executive Vice President Karen Lynch on Wednesday , during the annual JP Morgan Health Care conference.

CVS can administer 25 million vaccines a month, said Lynch, through its stores across the country.

“We have a wide reach,” added Lynch, saying that the company’s 10,000 stores can reach about 85% of the American population.

Walgreens also said earlier this week that he hopes to administer about 30 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine across the country by the end of this summer, once the vaccines are available to the general population.

The drugstore chain said it is hiring and training employees and increasing digital and telephone booking resources in preparation for the broader launch of the vaccine.

“We are ensuring that everyone is ready for this as soon as vaccines are available en masse, which we believe is likely in March or April,” said Alexander Gourlay, COO of Walgreens, at the conference.

CNN’s Amanda Watts, Alexandra Meeks, Gregory Lemos, Lauren del Valle, Jamiel Lynch, Michael Nedelman and Sarah Moon contributed to this report.

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