US coronavirus deaths hit 600,000 as weekly fatalities decline to new lows

The U.S. recorded a grim milestone Tuesday with over 600,000 deaths attributed to coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. However, the news comes as weekly fatalities have declined to lows not seen since early on in the pandemic.

The latest data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate a seven-day moving average of about 330 deaths, figures not seen since March 2020. Health officials owe the dropoff in deaths to a significant proportion of the country’s vaccinated population; federal data suggests 54% of adults are fully vaccinated, while 64.5% have received at least one dose. Figures also suggest a sweeping share of adults over 65 are protected against COVID-19, with over three-quarters fully vaccinated.