Hunter
04/01/20
A new projection from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaulation at the University of Washington shows 1367 Iowans will lose their lives to the COVID-19 virus, and says the peak will hit around May 1st.
The IHME bases their predictions on implementing social distancing measures through the end of May, and says if that happens, the number of deaths nationwide could be limited to under 100,000.
Furthermore, it’s believed that Iowa has enough hospital beds to handle the load, but intensive care beds specifically will be short.
The projections are based on state-mandated procedures to limit the spread of COVID-19, and the Institute believes Iowa’s estimates are higher because the state hasn’t implemented those procedures. They include state-ordered shelter in place, imposing travel limits, and manditory instead of recommended closure of schools.
Governor Reynolds has recommended the closing of schools throught April 12th and ordered the closure of “non-essential” businesses, but it doesn’t meet the strict standards used by the group.
Reynolds has predicted the peak of cases in mid-to-late-April, but hasn’t been more specific.
State-by-State and nationwide projections from the study can be found at www.covid19.healthdata.org.
