Heather Curtis
MARYLAND (WMAL) – Everyone wants to know how bad the COVID-19 pandemic will get and when it will end, but nobody can say for sure.
“I wish that I could tell you when we’re going to turn the corner, when you’ll be able to go back to work, to school, or to church, or when any of us will be able to get back to living a normal life again. Unfortunately I’m not able to do that,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Friday.
Unfortunately the medical experts don’t have those answers either, but there are projections based on various models. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, told CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, “We don’t really have any firm idea.” He said models are based on assumptions, and they’re only as accurate as the assumptions they’re based on.
Maryland’s Deputy Secretary of Health Fran Phillips said we are at the beginning of the curve. They have looked at many models and gotten input from a task force of experts.
“I don’t have a date. I don’t have a number for you, just to say that we are looking at all these modelings,” Phillips said.
As of Friday there were 2,758 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, which is 427 more than the day before. Forty-two Marylanders have died.
Friday D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said based on the Chime model, the city expects the number of deaths to peak in July at anywhere from 220 to more than 1,000, and the number of positive cases to rise to a total of 93,000.
Across the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control reported a total of 239,279 positive cases Friday and 5,443 deaths. Sunday Fauci estimated between 100-200,000 Americans could die from the virus and millions could get it. He added that these are just projections, and this is a moving target.
Fauci has said many times the best way to slow the spread and flatten the curve is to stay at home and practice social distancing when you leave your house.
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