DES MOINES, Iowa - The national death rate from COVID-19/coronavirus is projected to peak on Sunday, more than two weeks before the peak is predicted for Iowa.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle has been modeling the death rate and total deaths from the virus.
It originally projected Iowa's peak day would have 49 deaths, but now says the peak will be Wednesday April 29th with 19 deaths. That's more than two weeks after its prediction for U.S. deaths to peak on Sunday at 2,212.
Total deaths in Iowa are projected to be 565 on June 3rd, down from 1,500 previously.
The University of Washington group's projections also show the U.S. will reach its peak use of hospital beds and ventilators on Saturday.
Also, it's estimates for total U.S. deaths has dropped from roughly 80,000 to just over 60,000 as of Wednesday.
The group is predicting that the country will have a shortage of almost 16,000 hospital beds and 9,000 ICU beds when the peak use of resources is needed on Saturday.