US fatalities may hit 100k: Donald Trump

President Donald Trump on Friday reviewed his measure of US deaths from Covid-19 to “hopefully” less than 100,000, just days after expressing fears it could go up to 70,000. His initial estimate based on projections by his coronavirus task force was around 200,000 deaths. Over the last 24 hours, the country recorded 1,947 new deaths and 34,037 new cases.

The American president, who once rejected the Covid-19 outbreak as something that will “disappear” like a “miracle”, has in recent weeks used steps to take credit for taking action and preventing more deaths.

“Through our aggressive response and the extraordinary commitment and bravery of the American people, we have saved thousands and thousands of lives,” Trump said reporters on Friday.

He added, “People was thinking in terms of 1.5 million lives lost to 2.2 (million) without the relief. Hopefully, we’re going to come in below that... One hundred thousand lives lost, which is a terrible number nevertheless.”

To possibly keep tight control on its narrative about the handling of the outbreak, the White House has blocked Anthony Fauci, a top government epidemiologist and member of the US coronavirus task force, from testifying before a congressional committee next week. The Trump administration argued that making key officials who fight the outbreak appear at hearings will be “counterproductive”.

States such as California and Michigan are being cautious with their edges and have tightened limitations. Beaches and some public parks in California have been closed briefly, while Michigan has extended the lockdown to May 15.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said in New York City, a nursing home on Friday reported the deaths of 98 inmates from Covid-19. “It’s horrifying.”