Published February 15, 2021 • Updated on February 16, 2021 at 12:20 am NBCUniversal Media, LLC Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said over the weekend that new variants, including one first detected in the United Kingdom that appears to be more transmissible and has already been recorded in more than 30 states, will likely lead to more cases and more deaths. The U.S. has reported more than 27 million coronavirus cases and 488,000 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to a tally by NBC News. Here are the latest coronavirus updates from the U.S. and elsewhere: Schools Can Reopen, But Face Variant Challenges, CDC Epidemiologist Says