Total dead crossed to 80k, more than the 79k dead in the 2017-2018 flu season, which was the worst ever (average flu season kills 39k in a year).
79k is on the high edge of the preliminary numbers for that flu season. It’s more likely closer to about 60k (which is still extraordinarily high for a flu season). We should have finalized numbers within the next few months.
The internal White House estimates are for around 135k deaths from COVID-19, so if that holds, we’ll have to see this slowing trend continue to stop at that number.