'You're approaching a really stunning number of deaths': Dr Fauci warns US COVID-19 death toll could top 300k by the end of the year with another 43,000 Americans dying - as fatalities surge 32% in the last week

Dr Anthony Fauci has warned that the COVID-19 death toll in the United States could surpass a 'stunning' 300,000 deaths by the end of the year as the number of fatalities last week surged 32 percent, which is the biggest weekly increase since August.  

The current rolling seven-day average for deaths is currently 1,500, which is the highest since mid-May during the initial peak of the virus. 

If that trajectory continues, the US would reach 300,000 deaths in less than a month. 

Fauci noted that daily deaths have been hovering around the 1,000 to 2,000 mark for the past month. 

More than 257,600 Americans have now died from COVID-19 and there have been 12.4 million infections across the country. 

'We're now at over 250,000 deaths - a quarter of a million deaths. You could get well over 300,000 and close to even more than that if we don't turn things around,' Fauci told the Washington Post. 

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has forecast 334,000 deaths by the end of the year if current behaviors remain in place. Researchers warn that 15,000 lives could be saved if the majority of Americans start wearing masks. 

The US recorded its biggest weekly rise in COVID-19 deaths since August, increasing 32 percent from the previous week to average about 1,500 people per day. The majority of states saw at least a 10 percent or higher increase in deaths last week compared to the previous seven days. The Midwest was among the hardest-hit states

The current rolling seven-day average for deaths is currently 1,500, which is the highest since mid-May during the initial peak of the virus. If that trajectory continues, the US would reach 300,000 deaths in less than a month

The IHME model is forecasting that there will be 2,500 daily deaths by December 31 but, if people wear masks, it will remain around 1,500 per day.

In a separate interview with Yahoo News, Fauci warned the death toll could be even higher given the onset of colder weather and the upcoming holidays. 

'You do the math on that,' Fauci said. 'Two to three thousand deaths a day times a couple of months, and you're approaching a really stunning number of deaths.'  

More than 257,600 Americans have now died from COVID-19 and Dr Fauci has warned the death toll could surpassed 300,000 by the end of the year

If the US recorded 2,500 deaths per day over the next two months, the death toll could surpass more than 400,000. 

About 1 million Americans a day packed airports and planes over the weekend even as coronavirus deaths surged across the US and public health experts begged people to stay home and avoid big Thanksgiving gatherings. 

It comes as the US recorded its biggest weekly rise in COVID-19 deaths since August, increasing 32 percent from the previous week to average about 1,500 people per day, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county reports. 

States in the Midwest were among the hardest hit last week based on deaths per 100,000 people. 

South Dakota recorded 19.8 deaths per 100,000 people in the week ending November 22, which was a 62 percent increase from the previous seven days. 

North Dakota ranked second in deaths per capita with 13.6 fatalities per 100,000 people. It was a seven percent increase compared to the prior week. 

New Mexico saw its death toll surge 73 percent last week compared to the previous seven days. The state recorded 8 deaths per 100,000 last week. 

The states that saw the largest percentage changes in the number of deaths last week were Hawaii (+1,000%), South Carolina (+125%) and Oregon (+90%). 

The number of new cases nationally, which have been surging for weeks, increased by 13 percent last week or an average of more than 168,000 per day. 

More than 257,600 Americans have now died from COVID-19 and there have been 12.4 million infections across the country

The number of new cases nationally, which have been surging for weeks, increased by 13 percent last week. In North Dakota, the hardest hit state on a per capita basis, new cases increased decreased by 6.4 percent last week compared to the previous seven days. South Dakota, which is currently the third worst state for cases per capita, also saw its infections decline 23 percent last week

In North Dakota, the hardest hit state on a per capita basis, new cases increased decreased by 6.4 percent last week compared to the previous seven days. 

South Dakota, which is currently the third worst state for cases per capita, also saw its infections decline 23 percent last week.  

Despite cases decreasing slightly last week in the two hard-hit states, deaths are a lagging indicator and can rise several weeks after infections decline. 

Out of 50 states, 26 had positive test rates above 10 percent last week. The World Health Organization considers positive test rates above 5 percent concerning because it suggests there are more cases in the community that have not yet been uncovered.

Iowa (56%), South Dakota (45%) and Idaho (40%) were the top three states last week in terms of highest positivity rates. 

Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, at least 23 states have announced new restrictions to try to slow the spread of the virus but so far only New Mexico has issued a stay-at-home order. 

As governors and mayors grapple with an out-of-control pandemic, they are ratcheting up mask mandates and imposing restrictions on small indoor gatherings. 

Utah and Vermont have banned all social gatherings. So have local governments in Philadelphia and Dane County, Wisconsin. In Kentucky, no more than eight people from two households are permitted to get together; in Oregon, the gathering limit is six. California has imposed an overnight curfew. 

As deaths, cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, Fauci warned that the tolls didn't have to be so high if people increased their social distancing and mask wearing. 

'I don't want this to be a doomsday statement. It is within our power to not let those numbers happen,' Fauci told the Washington Post. 'The fact is, you don't have to accept those numbers as being inevitable.

'You might want to reconsider travel plans, and certainly try as best as you can to keep congregate meetings indoors - as innocent and wonderful as they sound - to a minimal number of people, preferably just members of a household,' Fauci said.

'I know this is a difficult thing to do, but we're in a very difficult situation, so it's better to be careful now and look forward to many, many more in the future, then either endangering yourself or a vulnerable member of your family or friends.' 

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has forecast 334,000 deaths (top chart) by the end of the year if current behaviors remain in place. The IHME model is forecasting that there will be 2,500 daily deaths (bottom chart) by December 31

Despite his warnings, about 1 million Americans a day packed airports and planes over the weekend even as coronavirus deaths surged across the US. 

While the number of people flying for Thanksgiving is down by more than half from last year because of the rapidly worsening outbreak, the 3 million who went through airport checkpoints from Friday through Sunday marked the biggest crowds since mid-March when the COVID-19 crisis took hold in the US. 

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans not to travel or spend the holiday with people outside their household. 

Fauci added that it was incomprehensible that governors in some states were still downplaying the dangers of the virus. 

'It's beyond stunning to me, it's almost incomprehensible, how in places where you have the intensive care beds completely full and intensive care patients needing to be housed in other places, and you have the possibility of pending shortages of staff - that in those same places they're still saying it's fake news, it's a hoax,' he said.

Fauci didn't name specific elected officials but South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been among those who have refused to encourage people to wear masks or socially distance throughout the pandemic. 

The state currently has the highest COVID-19 deaths per capita in the country and the second highest number of cases per capita. 

Neighboring North Dakota, which has the highest number of cases per capita, last week became the 35th state to require face coverings be worn in public as hospitals ran out of ICU beds to treat COVID-19 patients. 

'Our situation has changed, and we must change with it,' North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said in a statement at the time.