There is good news for the US as people get ready for Memorial Day weekend.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting that Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths will fall over the next four weeks. The CDC ensemble forecasts conclude that there will be a total of 596,000 to 606,000 Covid-19 deaths by June 19.
kAmpD @7 %9FCD52J[ r@G:5\`h 92D <:==65 2E =62DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^:?E6C24E:G6^a_a_^962=E9^4@C@?2G:CFD\FD\>2AD\2?5\42D6D^:?56I]9E>=Qmdhb[agg A6@A=6k^2m 2?5 :?764E65 >@C6 E92? bb >:==:@? :? E96 &$[ 244@C5:?8 E@ y@9?D w@A<:?D &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 :>AC@G65 @FE=@@< 42? 36 2EEC:3FE65 E@ E96 4@?E:?F:?8 677@CED 3J DE2E6D E@ 86E A6@A=6 G244:?2E65] p=C625J[ E6? DE2E6D 92G6 C624965 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD 8@2= @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^H@C=5^=:G6\?6HD^4@C@?2G:CFD\A2?56>:4\G244:?6\FA52E6D\_d\ae\a`^90da`hg5d`ecgfdh25eh`bb6e5_h5_b534Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmG244:?2E:?8 f_T @7 25F=EDk^2m 3J yF=J c H:E9 2E =62DE @?6 5@D6]k^Am
kAm|2?J DE2E6D 2C6 @776C:?8 :?46?E:G6D 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 86E E96 G244:?6] %96 =2E6DE :D r2=:7@C?:2[ H9:49 :D 6?E:4:?8 C6D:56?ED H:E9 2 H9@AA:?8 S``e]d >:==:@? :? 7C663:6D[ E@FE:?8 :E 2D E96 ?2E:@?VD 3:886DE G244:?6 :?46?E:G6 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAmqFE[ 2=E9@F89 G244:?2E65 25F=ED 42? 6?;@J ?6H 7C665@>D[ D@>6 @77:4:2=D 2C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_a`^_d^a`^FD^@?D=@H\4@F?EJ\?@CE9\42C@=:?2\G244:?6\96D:E2?4J\8@\E96C6^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmG244:?6 96D:E2?4J 2?5 =288:?8 G244:?2E:@?k^2m C2E6D 2>@?8 E9@D6 6=:8:3=6]k^Am
k9bmr9:=5C6? >FDE 36 AC@E64E65 7FCE96Ck^9bm
kAmp?5 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 ?@E 6=:8:3=6[ H9:49 2C6 49:=5C6? F?56C E96 286 @7 `a[ ?665 E@ 36 42C67F=] %96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 !65:2EC:4D :D C64@>>6?5:?8 E92E 49:=5C6? 2865 a @C @=56C H9@ 2C6 ?@E 7F==J G244:?2E65 D9@F=5 H62C 2 H6==\7:EE:?8 7246 >2D<]k^Am
kAm%96 FA52E65 8F:52?46 C64@>>6?5D 49:=5C6? H62C 2 >2D< 2E D49@@=[ :? 49:=5 42C6 AC@8C2>D[ 2E 42>A[ H96? A=2J:?8 H:E9 7C:6?5D 2?5 A=2J:?8 :?5@@C DA@CED 2?5 @FE5@@C DA@CED H:E9 4=@D6 4@?E24E] %96C6 2C6 6I46AE:@?D 7@C DA@CED H96C6 >2D<D 42? 36 2 92K2C5 DF49 2D 8J>?2DE:4D]k^Am
kAm|2D<D D9@F=5 36 FD65 @FE5@@CD :7 E96 49:=5 :D :? 2 =2C86 8C@FA D6EE:?8[ @C H96? :E :D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ <66A 8@@5 A9JD:42= 5:DE2?46 7C@> @E96CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 pp!]k^Am
kAm%96 pp! 2=D@ C64@>>6?565 49:=5C6? H62C @?6 2E 9@>6 :7 E96J =:G6 H:E9 D@>6@?6 H9@ :D :>>F?@4@>AC@>:D65 @C 2E\C:D< 7@C D6G6C6 r@G:5\`h]k^Am
kAmQ%96 r~'xs\`h G244:?6D 2C6 C6>2C<23=J 67764E:G6[ 3FE H6 >FDE DE2J G:8:=2?E[Q pp! !C6D:56?E sC] {66 $2G:@ q66CD D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAm%@ 96=A E66?D 2?5 25F=ED H9@ 92G6 >@56C2E6 @C H@CD6 42D6D @7 r@G:5\`h[ E96 &$ u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D 2FE9@C:K65 E96 >@?@4=@?2= 2?E:3@5J E96C2AJ D@EC@G:>23 7@C 286D `a 2?5 @=56C 2E C:D< 7@C D6G6C6 5:D62D6 @C 562E9]k^Am
k9bm|2?J DE2E6D @776C:?8 G244:?6 :?46?E:G6 AC@8C2>Dk^9bm
kAmr2=:7@C?:2 2?5 |:??6D@E2 2C6 E96 =2E6DE DE2E6D @776C:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_a`^_d^af^962=E9^G244:?2E:@?\:?E6C6DE\454\>2D<\8F:52?46^:?56I]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm?6H :?46?E:G6D 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 86E G244:?2E65k^2m]k^Am
kAmr2=:7@C?:2 :D @776C:?8 8:7E 42C5D 2?5 42D9 AC:K6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 S`d >:==:@? 8C2?5 AC:K6 E@ 36 DA=:E 2>@?8 E6? r2=:7@C?:2?D H9@ 92G6 366? G244:?2E65]k^Am
kAmxE H:== :?4=F56 6G6CJ C6D:56?E H9@ 92D 2=C625J 366? G244:?2E65[ 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ C646:G6 2 D9@E 367@C6 E96 DE2E6 7F==J C6@A6?D @? yF?6 `d[ 244@C5:?8 E@ v@G] v2G:? }6HD@>VD @77:46]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE EH@ >:==:@? C6D:56?ED G244:?2E65 H:== 36 6=:8:3=6 7@C S`__ >:==:@? :? 8:7E 42C5D[ 5@=65 @FE :? Sd_ :?4C6>6?ED 2D 2 AC6A2:5 ':D2 @C 8C@46CJ DE@C6 8:7E 42C5]k^Am
kAmp3@FE d_T @7 6=:8:3=6 r2=:7@C?:2?D 2C6 2=C625J 7F==J G244:?2E65 2?5 2?@E96C `aT 92G6 C646:G65 @?6 5@D6 @7 E96 r@G:5\`h G244:?6[ 3FE 2?@E96C `a >:==:@? C6D:56?ED 2C6 6=:8:3=6 3FE 92G6 ?@E J6E 366? :?@4F=2E65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAmx? |:??6D@E2[ v@G6C?@C %:> (2=K <:4<65 @77 E96 Q*@FC $9@E E@ $F>>6CQ 42>A2:8? F?56C H9:49 `__[___ |:??6D@E2?D H9@ 86E G244:?2E65 36EH66? |6>@C:2= s2J H66<6?5 2?5 E96 6?5 @7 yF?6 H:== 36 6=:8:3=6 E@ 49@@D6 7C@> 2 C2?86 @7 :?46?E:G6D[ :?4=F5:?8 DE2E6 A2C< A2DD6D 2?5 7:D9:?8 =:46?D6D 2D H6== 2D DE2E6 72:C 2?5 C68:@?2= 2>FD6>6?E A2C< E:4<6ED]k^Am
kAmQ(6 H2?E65 E@ >2E49 2 AC@8C2> E92E H6 E9@F89E >2E4965 |:??6D@E2[Q (2=K E@=5 C6A@CE6CD] Q(6 E9:?< :EVD 2 8C62E H2J E@ <:4< @77 DF>>6C]Qk^Am
kAmQx E9:?< 6DA64:2==J E96D6 562=:?8 H:E9 E96 @FE5@@CD H2D G6CJ |:??6D@E2[ H6 5@ H2?E E@ 6?4@FC286 A6@A=6 E@ 86E @FE E96C6[ H6 9@A6 E92E E96D6 2C6 =:76=@?8] %9:D >:89E 36 D@>6 A6@A=6VD 7:CDE 7:D9:?8 =:46?D6[ H6 9@A6 E96J 3FJ @?6 6G6CJ J62C 27E6C E92E[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|:??6D@E2VD r@G:5\`h C6DEC:4E:@?D @? 3FD:?6DD6D[ DA@CE:?8 6G6?ED 2?5 D@4:2= 82E96C:?8D 6?5 uC:52J 2?5 (2=K DECF4< 2? @AE:>:DE:4 E@?6 7@C E96 FA4@>:?8 9@=:52J H66<6?5]k^Am
kAmQp== @7 E96 >:E:82E:@?D 2C6 C6>@G65 7C@> 3FD:?6DD6D[ 3FD:?6DD 42A24:EJ 2?5 E9@D6 EJA6D @7 E9:?8D[ D@ :E H:== 36 2 ECF6 |6>@C:2= s2J H66<6?5[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
k9bmVv6E G244:?2E65[ 9:E E96 36249Vk^9bm
kAm}6H *@C< r:EJ 92D :ED @H? A=2? E@ 86E 6G6CJ@?6 G244:?2E65] %96 4:EJ H:== AC@G:56 G244:?2E:@? 3FD6D 2E 362496D 2?5 A2C<D E@ @776C 7C66 G244:?6D 5FC:?8 E96 H66<6?5]k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ E96 6IEC2 >:=6[ H92E6G6C :E E2<6D[Q D2:5 }6H *@C< r:EJ |2J@C q:== 56 q=2D:@] Q*@FVC6 8@:?8 E@ D66 @FC G244:?6 3FD6D @FE 2== @G6C }6H *@C< r:EJ E96 ?6IE 76H 52JD]Qk^Am
kAmw6 25565i Qv@[ 86E G244:?2E65[ 9:E E96 36249] #62= D:>A=6]Qk^Am
kAms6 q=2D:@ 2=D@ 2??@F?465 E92E E96 4:EJ 92D G244:?2E65 @G6C h[___ 9@>6\3@F?5 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 H:== 6IA2?5 E96 AC@8C2> E@ :?4=F56 5:D23=65 A6@A=6 2?5 E9@D6 fd 2?5 @=56C] pD @7 E@52J[ E96 4:EJ 92D 25>:?:DE6C65 2 E@E2= @7 g[`b_[ggh G244:?6 5@D6D]k^Am
k9bm'244:?6 3@@DE6CD H:== 36 ?66565 2E D@>6 A@:?Ek^9bm
kAmqFE 6IA6CED C6:E6C2E6 E92E 86EE:?8 G244:?6D ?@H >2J ?@E 36 6?@F89 2?5 3@@DE6C D9@ED H:== 36 ?66565 2E D@>6 A@:?E]k^Am
kAmsC] !6E6C |2C<D[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 &$ u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@?VD r6?E6C 7@C q:@=@8:4D tG2=F2E:@? 2?5 #6D62C49[ D2:5 E92E 4FCC6?E H:D5@> 23@FE 3@@DE6CD DF886DED E92E E96J H:== 36 ?66565[ 3FE E96 6I24E E:>:?8 :D ?@E J6E <?@H?]k^Am
kAmQ%96 6I24E E:>:?8 @7 H96? 3@@DE6CD H:== 36 C6BF:C65 H:== AC@323=J 36 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 EH@ E9:?8D[Q 96 D2:5] Q~?6[ 9@H 72DE E92E :>>F?6 C6DA@?D6 72==D @77[ 3FE 2=D@ :E >2J 56A6?5 @? H92E G2C:2?ED @7 r@G:5\`h 2C6 4:C4F=2E:?8]Qk^Am
kAm!2CE:4:A2?ED :? @C:8:?2= G244:?6 EC:2=D 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 36:?8 7@==@H65 D@ E92E E96:C :>>F?6 C6DA@?D6 42? 36 =@@<65 2E @G6C E:>6 2?5 E96C6 :D D@>6 6G:56?46 E92E :E 5@6D Q72== @77 D@>6H92EQ @G6C E:>6[ |2C<D D2:5 5FC:?8 2 r@G:5\`h '244:?6 t5F42E:@? 2?5 tBF:EJ !C@;64E H63:?2C]k^Am
kAmw6 6IA=2:?65 E92E E9:D :D 3642FD6 46CE2:? =6G6=D @7 :>>F?:EJ 2C6 DF77:4:6?E E@ AC6G6?E r@G:5\`h H:E9 E96 @C:8:?2= DEC2:? @7 E96 G:CFD[ 3FE :E >2J ?@E 36 8@@5 6?@F89 7@C @E96C G2C:2?ED]k^Am
kAmQ(6V== 92G6 E@ D66 H96C6 E9:D 2== :?E6C24ED] xD :E A@DD:3=6 H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ ?665 2 3@@DE6C 2E D@>6 A@:?En *6D] xD :E AC@323=6n *6D] s@ H6 <?@H 6I24E=J H96?n }@[Q D2:5 |2C<D] QqFE :7 x 925 E@ =@@< 2E >J 4CJDE2= 32==[ :EVD AC@323=J ?@E D@@?6C 9@A67F==J E92? 2 J62C 27E6C 36:?8 G244:?2E65 7@C E96 2G6C^286 25F=E]Q w@H6G6C[ 96 E9:?<D :E >2J 36 5:776C6?E 7@C :>>F?@\4@>AC@>:D65 @C @=56C 25F=ED H9@ >2J ?665 2 3@@DE6C D9@E D@@?6C]k^Am
kAmQ%96 8@@5 ?6HD :D :E >2J EFC? @FE E92E E96 :>>F?:EJ =2DED =@?86C[Q |2C<D 25565]k^Am
kAmr}}V$ {2FC6? |2D42C6?92D[ y6? r9C:DE6?D6?[ s6:5C6 |4!9:==:AD[ |:C?2 p=D92C:7[ z6:E9 p==6?[ r96C: |@DD3FC8[ }2@>: %9@>2D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am