Coronavirus Watch: Up to 240K Americans may die, officials say
Between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans may die from the coronavirus this year, according to estimates released by the White House. And that's if we continue to hunker down at home.
If the U.S. hadn't implemented nationwide social distancing guidelines, between 1.5 million to 2.2 million people could have died, health officials said.
So stay home, save lives.
It's Wednesday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network.
Here's the latest, as of 12:45 p.m. ET:
- More than 190,000 people have tested positive in the U.S., and more than 4,100 have died after contracting the virus. See a map of confirmed cases here.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its guidance discouraging the general public from wearing masks.
- U.S. stocks, fresh off one of the worst quarters in history, fell sharply when the markets opened Wednesday, with the Dow down more than 800 points. Stay up-to-date on the markets by signing up for The Daily Money.
- Sailors who have tested negative for the coronavirus from the virus-stricken aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt will be quarantined, many off-base in Guam hotels.
- President Donald Trump says he is going to speak with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about whether to allow two Holland America cruise ships to dock in his state.
- Wimbledon has been canceled for the first time since the tournament paused during World War II.
Today's good news: Dozens of volunteers at Johns Hopkins are gathering at a Baltimore warehouse to manufacture 5,000 face shields per day for clinicians. Many are medical students being kept away from patients for now.
We're answering your questions about the coronavirus: Submit your questions at this form. And check out what we've already answered here.
Pat from Alexandria, Virginia, asks: What are the results so far with the tests of the Z-Pak and malaria med?
There are no approved therapies or drugs to treat COVID-19. Anecdotal reports suggest that a known anti-malarial (hydroxychloroquine) combined with a common antibiotic (azithromycin, sold as Zithromax and Z-Pak) may offer some benefit in the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
A very small study in France of just a couple dozen patients found some evidence that the combination was effective in fighting COVID-19. A subsequent study of 80 patients in France found clinical improvement in all but one. Studies in China have suggested similar results.
Researchers have warned that the drugs can have risky side effects and could cause subtle heart changes and increase a person's risk of developing arrhythmia.
Clinical trials of the drug combination began in New York on March 24, and the FDA on March 29 granted emergency use of hydroxychloroquine by hospitals. Several other clinical trials are in the works, according to ClinicalTrials.gov. But it's still too early to say whether the drugs are effective.
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— Grace Hauck, Breaking News Reporter, @grace_hauck