Deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. are expected to surge in the coming weeks as the country preps for a new wave and one state is demanding for case-targeted vaccine distribution.
Forecast: Increase Instead of Decline
A new coronavirus wave is emerging in the United States, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Reich Lab's COVID-19 Forecast Hub revealed that while a slight dip in deaths linked to the virus will be seen in the next two weeks, the tides will by the second half of April.
The data was updated on Tuesday, and indicated that despite the vaccination program on the roll, there will be an apparent increase in fatalities in the country after two weeks of bottoming out.
The ensemble forecast is based on independent models that projects the potential increase or decrease in deaths linked to the virus.
Health experts have expressed hopes for the vaccination program to help keep a steady decline in COVID-19 fatalities. However, a new wave could dampen hopes for a retained plateau, or a small increase.
New infections have been on the rise in the country over the past week, with Monday posting 68,566 new confirmed cases. Data from the Johns Hopkins University indicated that Monday's numbers were the highest since the beginning of March.
Michigan Asks for More
As the U.S continues to watch for signs of a full-blown new coronavirus wave, some politicians are raising concerns about the vaccine rollout program.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested for more COVID-19 vaccine doses from the White House. She also asked the Biden administration to make distribution faster in hard-hit states.
Vaccine allocation is currently based on a state's population, but Michigan has seen a significant increase in new cases over the past two weeks.
Michigan reported a 52 percent spike in new weekly cases, becoming the state with the highest increase in weekly cases in recent weeks.
The state has recorded more than 739,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started. It has logged more than 17,000 deaths.
Bleak Warning from CDC Director
On Monday, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Rochelle Walensky said she is concerned about what could happen over the coming weeks.
"I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom ... right now, I'm scared," Walensky said.
So far, around only 15.8 percent of the U.S. population has been fully inoculated. There have also been setbacks due to some states pushing for reopening earlier than recommended.
Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish Jha, also said that the increase in at least 10 percent in daily cases across 27 states is driven largely by younger people.
Jha said that this particular group has been "kind of relaxing, getting infected," citing spring break activities and vacationers.
