What you need to know about COVID-19: Model projects more than 317,000 US COVID deaths by December

a brand new poll shows that people in the US and the UK are not that impressed with their governments responses to the Corona virus pandemic. The poll, which was done by the Pew Research Center, asked people in 14 countries about the pandemic, how they felt about their government's response to it, how it's impacted their lives and how it's impacted national unity. And on that question of national unity. Almost three quarters of people in Denmark say the pandemic has made the country more unified, compared to only 18% in the US who say the same. Remember, though in the US the Corona viruses also coincided with a tense election season and protests over racism. Now, when it comes to the government responses to the crisis, almost everyone in Denmark thinks their government has done a good job. Denmark was one of the first countries in Europe to shut down its borders. Compare that to less than half of people in the US and UK who think their governments have handled the crisis Well, now, if you look at the American and British numbers, you might notice that they are almost identical to the popular vote counts in the last elections for the governing parties, Republicans in the US and conservatives in the UK and the pool actually found that politics has a pretty big impact on how you're likely to view your own government's response. Right leaning voters view the response better than left leaning voters in the US in the UK, where they have right leaning governments while in Spain there's a left wing government, and so the opposite is true now. One other interesting finding is that people in Sweden were among the most likely to say that the pandemic has had a substantial impact on their lives. That is pretty remarkable considering that Sweden never had a nationwide locked down. It didn't close schools on Mass. The government isn't even recommending that people wear masks. And yet Mawr Swedes say that the pandemic has had a substantial impact on their lives than people in Spain or Italy, where they had among the strictest lockdowns in Europe. Scott McLain, CNN London

A well-known coronavirus model previously cited by the White House forecasts more than 317,000 US deaths from COVID-19 by December.As of Friday morning, the model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projects that 317,312 people may die from the illness — marking an increase of about 8,000 deaths from a previous estimate the model projected one week ago. The new IHME estimate suggests that the United States could see more than 136,000 additional deaths between now and December, and the daily death rate could rise to more than 2,000 per day.Yet IHME researchers noted on their website on Thursday, when they updated their model, that "if mask wearing in public increases to 95%, more than 67,000 lives could be saved."'Another forecast by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the number of U.S. deaths at 200,000 by Sept. 19.The latest numbersMore than 5.9 million Americans have been infected and at least 181,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The projections published Thursday forecast 200,292 deaths by September 19, with a possible range of 195,824 to 207,269 deaths."State- and territory-level ensemble forecasts predict that the number of reported new deaths per week may decrease in 18 jurisdictions. Trends in numbers of future reported deaths are uncertain or predicted to remain stable in the other jurisdictions," the CDC says on its forecasting website.Unlike some individual models, the CDC's ensemble forecast projects only about a month. The previous ensemble forecast, published August 20, projected roughly 195,000 coronavirus deaths by September 12.Health officials 'concerned' about new testing guidelinesThe National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Big Cities Health Coalition say they are "incredibly concerned with both the impact and the process" of the CDC's abrupt testing guidelines changes this week and urged in a letter sent on Friday that the CDC change course.In a shift that perplexed many, the CDC changed its COVID-19 testing guidelines Monday to say some people without symptoms may not need to be tested, even if they've been in close contact with someone known to have the virus. Previously, the CDC said viral testing was appropriate for people with recent or suspected exposure, even if they were asymptomatic."Rather than empowering public health professionals and moving our nation forward in a cohesive way to address the pandemic, this abrupt change has caused confusion, consternation and undermined the credibility of the agency with public health professionals and the public alike," the letter says. "This revision and its resulting impact is adding yet another obstacle for public health practitioners to effectively address the pandemic."The letter says that the lack of evidence cited to inform the changes has them "troubled," and changing testing guidance to suggest close contacts of those with confirmed COVID-19 do not need to be tested is "inconsistent with the science and the data."Iowa tops some state-by-state rankingsThe nation has averaged 41,991 new cases over the last seven days, down 10% from the previous week, according to the Johns Hopkins information.Iowa has overtaken the top spot in the nation when it comes to the highest 7-day average of new cases per 100,000 people, the data show, with 31.49. It is followed by North Dakota, Mississippi, Alabama and South Dakota.Iowa also reported a record high daily number of new cases, Johns Hopkins reports, with 2,681. It is followed by Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.Stop the spread of COVID-19To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask.Masks are required in public places in some states and businesses. Multiple major retailers have announced mask requirement policies as the nation continues to see a large number of cases reported in certain areas.The CDC also recommends you keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and others.Make sure to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.For more tips on how to stay safe, CLICK HERE.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A well-known coronavirus model previously cited by the White House forecasts more than 317,000 US deaths from COVID-19 by December.

As of Friday morning, the model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projects that 317,312 people may die from the illness — marking an increase of about 8,000 deaths from a previous estimate the model projected one week ago.

The new IHME estimate suggests that the United States could see more than 136,000 additional deaths between now and December, and the daily death rate could rise to more than 2,000 per day.

Yet IHME researchers noted on their website on Thursday, when they updated their model, that "if mask wearing in public increases to 95%, more than 67,000 lives could be saved."'

Another forecast by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the number of U.S. deaths at 200,000 by Sept. 19.

The latest numbers

More than 5.9 million Americans have been infected and at least 181,000 have died, according to .

The projections published Thursday forecast 200,292 deaths by September 19, with a possible range of 195,824 to 207,269 deaths.

"State- and territory-level ensemble forecasts predict that the number of reported new deaths per week may decrease in 18 jurisdictions. Trends in numbers of future reported deaths are uncertain or predicted to remain stable in the other jurisdictions," the CDC says on its forecasting website.

Unlike some individual models, the CDC's ensemble forecast projects only about a month. The previous ensemble forecast, published August 20, projected roughly 195,000 coronavirus deaths by September 12.

Health officials 'concerned' about new testing guidelines

The National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Big Cities Health Coalition say they are "incredibly concerned with both the impact and the process" of the CDC's abrupt testing guidelines changes this week and urged in a letter sent on Friday that the CDC change course.

In a shift that perplexed many, the CDC changed its testing guidelines Monday to say some people without symptoms may not need to be tested, even if they've been in close contact with someone known to have the virus. Previously, the CDC said viral testing was appropriate for people with recent or suspected exposure, even if they were asymptomatic.

"Rather than empowering public health professionals and moving our nation forward in a cohesive way to address the pandemic, this abrupt change has caused confusion, consternation and undermined the credibility of the agency with public health professionals and the public alike," the letter says. "This revision and its resulting impact is adding yet another obstacle for public health practitioners to effectively address the pandemic."

The letter says that the lack of evidence cited to inform the changes has them "troubled," and changing testing guidance to suggest close contacts of those with confirmed COVID-19 do not need to be tested is "inconsistent with the science and the data."

Iowa tops some state-by-state rankings

The nation has averaged 41,991 new cases over the last seven days, down 10% from the previous week, according to the Johns Hopkins information.

Iowa has overtaken the top spot in the nation when it comes to the highest 7-day average of new cases per 100,000 people, the data show, with 31.49. It is followed by North Dakota, Mississippi, Alabama and South Dakota.

Iowa also reported a record high daily number of new cases, Johns Hopkins reports, with 2,681. It is followed by Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Stop the spread of COVID-19

To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask.

Masks are required in public places in some states and businesses. Multiple major retailers have announced mask requirement policies as the nation continues to see a large number of cases reported in certain areas.

The CDC also recommends you keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and others.

Make sure to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

For more tips on how to stay safe,

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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