Topline
The U.S. surpassed 600,000 deaths from Covid-19 on Tuesday, a bleak reminder that Americans are still dying despite progress from vaccination campaigns and decreasing death rates, while inoculation gains could be at risk from persistent levels of vaccine hesitancy and dangerous variants of the virus.
COVID Memorial Project installation of 200,000 American flags on the National Mall
Key Facts
The U.S. Covid-19 death count reached 600,039 deaths Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, a number that totals roughly the population of Wyoming.
There were 12,710 new cases and 170 deaths reported Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins.
Though the pandemic’s momentum in the U.S. has been stunted by the rising share of the population that’s vaccinated against Covid—it took almost four months for the death toll to rise by 100,000 from 500,000 on Feb. 22, following the one month it took for a 100,000 rise from 400,000 on Jan. 19, and a little more than a month previously from 300,000 on Dec. 14—experts warn of a resurgence driven by widespread vaccine hesitancy.
Wyoming, Colorado and Missouri are the states reporting the worst outbreaks at the moment, with Michigan, Georgia and Kentucky reporting the highest daily death rates across the country.
Key Background
The roughly four months it has taken for the U.S. to move from 500,000 deaths to 600,000 deaths is around the same time it took to reach the first 100,000 deaths back in May 2020. It is a significant slowdown from the three consecutive months in winter where nearly 100,000 deaths were added every month. A significant part of this can be put down to the successful vaccination campaign in the U.S., where over half of the population has received at least one dose of vaccine.
What We Don’t Know
Different estimates or accounting methods bring different totals. An NBC tally reached the grim 600,000 milestone a week ago and a study by researchers at the University of Washington placed the U.S. figure to be around 900,000 in early May, much higher than official statistics. Undercounting is possible, especially given potential limitations or different rules in testing. In early June, Peru’s death toll more than doubled after it reviewed its data.
What To Watch For
Vaccines are not a guaranteed exit from the pandemic, with some of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world facing the worst outbreaks, something experts put down to rules potentially being relaxed too early. In England, where cases and deaths declined precipitously in May, there are warnings of a potential third wave of coronavirus driven by the Delta variant first identified in India. This strain, much more infectious and less susceptible to vaccines, could become the dominant variant in the U.S., according to former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
Big Number
3.8 million. This is how many people around the world have died from Covid-19. The U.S. accounts for around 16% of this.
Further Reading
U.S. Marks 500,000 Coronavirus Deaths, Though New Cases Are Down (Forbes)
U.S. Hits 400,000 Covid-19 Deaths, Nearly 1 In Every 800 Americans (Forbes)
