Trump: "The US Will Face a Very Painful Period Over the Next Two Weeks"

Bugs Coordinator: "No Magical Vaccine or Cure Yet"
Director Fauci: "Fatality Rate May Rise, But Don't Be Discouraged"
US COVID-19 Social Distancing Expected to Result in 100,000?240,000 Deaths

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondents Baek Jong-min and Na Juseok] U.S. President Donald Trump (photo) warned that the United States will go through a very difficult period due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the next two weeks. It appears that he has deeply recognized the seriousness as the number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. has surpassed that of China.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

At a COVID-19 task force (TF) press conference held at the White House on March 31 (local time), President Trump said, "This crisis will be a national test that the United States has never experienced before," adding, "Every moment, the decisions Americans make will determine life or death." He continued, "The next two weeks will be a very, very painful time," and added, "The terrible period may even last up to three weeks."

At the TF meeting that day, a warning was issued that the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. could reach between 100,000 and 240,000. Even if social distancing measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. are maintained, a large number of deaths cannot be avoided. It was also pointed out that if social distancing and other measures were not in place, deaths could reach between 1.5 million and 2.2 million.

Deborah Birx, White House COVID-19 TF coordinator, said, "There is currently no specific cure for COVID-19, nor a magical vaccine or treatment," and predicted, "The spread within the U.S. over the next 30 days could vary depending on how each of us behaves."

As the forecast of increasing deaths emerged, the COVID-19 fatality rate, which had been relatively low until now, is also expected to rise. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), urged at the press conference, "The fatality rate will increase going forward, but citizens should not become discouraged."

Regarding the expected number of deaths in the U.S., Fauci said, "It is difficult to accept the projected number of deaths, but we must do everything we can to reduce fatalities."

According to Johns Hopkins University, as of 9 p.m. local time in the U.S., there are 188,172 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,873 deaths in the U.S. The number of deaths has surpassed China's statistics (3,309) following the confirmed cases.