CDC Warns Surge In Deaths, New COVID-19 Cases Amid Reopening Of Several States

As several U.S. states push ahead with the reopening of their economies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning that COVID-19 cases and deaths could soar. The New York Times has obtained a copy of the CDC’s computer models, which was included in charts prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and disseminated within the administration.

Up To 200,000 New Daily Cases

The CDC modeling revealed 200,000 new daily cases of COVID-19 infection can occur by the end of May and the country could expect up to 3,000 deaths every day. This is if most of the states reopen their economy and expose residents to the virus. At the moment, around 25,000 new cases are reported daily with around 1,750 fatalities.

The White House has distanced itself from the CDC model and projections without disputing its accuracy. In a statement released, Monday, the White House deputy press secretary, Judd Deere, said the CDC data do not reflect any of the models that the task force has done. “The president’s phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific-driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with,” Deere said.

Phased Federal Guidelines

Many states are going ahead in relaxing the restrictions meant to slow down the spread of the virus. This is despite the growing risk of residents getting exposed to the virus and some of them possibly dying from it. State officials argue that the restrictions are collapsing their economies. States like Texas and Georgia did not adhere to the phased federal guidelines issued, on April 16, by the White House coronavirus task force.

The guidelines were revealed during a White House press briefing where the president has announced the country might have passed the peak in new cases. President Trump said that “…we’re starting our life again, we’re starting rejuvenation of our economy again, in a safe and structured and very responsible fashion.” On that day, 32,076 new cases were recorded -- a number which is reportedly lower compared to those in the past four days.

It Is Up to The State Governors

Although the implementation of the guidelines is up to the governors, it clearly says no state should try to ease restrictions until it sees a “downward trajectory” of new COVID-19 cases. The period stated for such a downward trajectory is 14 days. As of last weekend, however, no state in the country could make such a claim.