Coronavirus Watch: Research center lowers death toll estimates

Death toll estimates in the U.S. may be lower than previously predicted. A University of Washington health research center now puts the likely toll by August at about 60,000 compared to previous projections that approached 100,000. Dr. Anthony Fauci also confirmed that estimate today.

Evidence our social distancing efforts are paying off? A reminder that the CDC recommends staying at least 6 feet from another person, wearing a cloth face mask in public and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds several times a day.

It's Thursday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network.

Here's the latest news, as of 2:30 p.m. ET:

• More than 15,000 people in the U.S. have died. Last week at this time, the death toll was just under 6,000. See a map.
• U.S. stocks surged higher despite news that more than 6.6 million Americans filed unemployment benefit claims last week for the first time.
• About 50 to 60 million Americans should start seeing stimulus cash in their bank accounts as early as today or Friday. The first group includes those who've already given their bank account information to the IRS as well as Social Security beneficiaries who filed federal tax returns that included direct deposit information.
• European travelers may have brought the coronavirus to New York weeks before the first confirmed case, new research suggests.
• Senate Democrats blocked a $250 billion measure to replenish an emergency fund for small businesses, calling it a "political stunt" that failed to consider other needs such as hospital funding. 
• New York is still seeing a record number of deaths each day, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is working to bring in more funeral home directors to help. But there's positive news: Hospitalization rates and the number of ICU patients have fallen, he said.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a third night in the ICU with the coronavirus and is "improving," his office said. 

Your guide to COVID-19: Paste BN has launched a new resource where you can find answers about safety, rumors, travel and more. Check it out here.

Carole S. from Salem, Oregon, asks: Can you get COVID-19 from an open cut or blister if it comes in contact with the virus?

Experts say there has been evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted through an open cut, wound or blister. 

The coronavirus most commonly enters the body through the nose, mouth or eyes, primarily through respiratory droplets. From there, it infects the upper respiratory tract by attaching itself to a host cell, penetrating it and then replicating until the cell dies. 

The virus only attaches to a cell that has a specific type of receptor, and it's unlikely those receptors can be found at a the site of a wound of cut. 

And finally, thank you for subscribing. We appreciate you trusting the Paste BN Network. 

— Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor, @raretakis, and Adrianna Rodriguez, health reporter, @AdriannaUSAT