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The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) on Monday estimates around 135,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. through the beginning of August.
IHME cited the easing of lockdown orders as the main driver of the new number, Reuters reports.
The projection from the IHME has put the U.S. death toll through early August at 134,475, the midrange between 95,092 and 242,890.
The new forecast reflects reopening measures underway across the U.S. and the rise of social contact between people that will increase transmission, the IHME noted.
“This new model is the basis for the sobering new estimate of U.S. deaths,” Reuters cited IHME Director Christopher Murray as saying when talking about the reopening measures.
