U.S. coronavirus deaths are projected to reach 180,000 by the beginning of October unless the majority of people start wearing masks, according to a report on Wednesday. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington estimates 179,106 fatalities from COVID-19 by Oct 1, although researchers said that number can be reduced by roughly 33,000 if at least 95 percent of the population wears a mask in public.