Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, January 18, 2021) – As the highly contagious omicron variant rages on across the U.S., modelers are forecasting COVID deaths could skyrocket in the coming weeks with as many as 300,000 more deaths by mid-March.

Daily coronavirus fatalities in the U.S. are now averaging nearly 1,700.  Health officials say while that number is still well below the 3,300 from last January, deaths are increasing at an alarming rate.  Nursing homes are again seeing an uptick in deaths

Health officials say if the higher end of projections holds true, the COVID death toll will surpass one million by early Spring.

Experts say the wave of deaths heading for the U.S. will likely peak in late January or early February with weekly fatalities equal to or exceeding the delta spike.