U.S Covid-19 situation grim, death toll may touch 450000 'by February'

The number of Covid-19 patients in US hospitals has exceeded 100,000 for the first time, nearly double the peak from the first wave. At 2,658, the United States has witnessed the highest single-day reporting of new coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.

According to reports, the steep rise in hospitalizations comes after a rapid climb in new cases, which now number more than a million a week. Deaths, which normally are lower than hospitalizations, have also been rising fast lately, and now total more than 270,000.

Dr Robert Redfield, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has prjoected that the total deaths from Covid-19 could reach 'close to 450,000' by February unless a large percentage of Americans follow precautions like mask-wearing.

Speaking at an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Redfield said that about 90% of hospitals in the country are in 'hot zones and the red zones'.

The CDC head further said, "We are at a very critical time right now about being able to maintain the resilience of our health-care system. Reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult in the public health history of this nation, largely because of the stress that’s going to be put on our health-care system."

"And I do think unfortunately, before we see February, we could be close to 450,000 Americans (who) have died from this virus," he added. The United States is now in the range of reporting between 1,500 and 2,500 deaths everyday.