U.S. supports lifting patent protections for vaccines; once-grim CDC projections now 'quite hopeful' for summer; Live COVID-19 updates John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Walensky: Could see virus decline by end of July Replay Video UP NEXT Hospitalizations and deaths should decline sharply by July if the nationwide vaccination program remains strong and community mitigation efforts are followed, according to a federal report released Wednesday. Still, ignoring mitigation efforts such as masks and social distancing in some situations could lead to substantial increases in "severe COVID-19 outcomes," even with improved vaccination coverage, the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.