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| Coronavirus: Trump says peak is passed and US to reopen soon | Coronavirus: Trump says peak is passed and US to reopen soon |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Donald Trump says the US has "passed the peak" of new Covid-19 cases and predicted some states would reopen this month. | President Donald Trump says the US has "passed the peak" of new Covid-19 cases and predicted some states would reopen this month. |
| At the daily White House virus briefing, Mr Trump said new reopening guidelines would be announced on Thursday after he speaks to governors. | At the daily White House virus briefing, Mr Trump said new reopening guidelines would be announced on Thursday after he speaks to governors. |
| "We'll be the comeback kids, all of us," the president said. "We want to get our country back." | "We'll be the comeback kids, all of us," the president said. "We want to get our country back." |
| The US has more than 638,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and over 30,800 deaths. | |
| "The data suggests that nationwide, we have passed the peak of new cases," Mr Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden on Wednesday. | "The data suggests that nationwide, we have passed the peak of new cases," Mr Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden on Wednesday. |
| "Hopefully that will continue, and we will continue to make great progress." | "Hopefully that will continue, and we will continue to make great progress." |
| Asked why the US accounted for such a significant proportion of the global death toll of 136,908, Mr Trump accused other countries of lying about their mortality rate. | Asked why the US accounted for such a significant proportion of the global death toll of 136,908, Mr Trump accused other countries of lying about their mortality rate. |
| "Does anybody really believe the numbers of some of these countries?" he said, naming China. | "Does anybody really believe the numbers of some of these countries?" he said, naming China. |
| The Trump administration has previously pencilled in 1 May as a possible date to reopen the nation, but the president said some states may be able to return to normalcy earlier than that. | The Trump administration has previously pencilled in 1 May as a possible date to reopen the nation, but the president said some states may be able to return to normalcy earlier than that. |
| "I think that will be a very exciting time indeed," he said. | "I think that will be a very exciting time indeed," he said. |
| When questioned about the dangers of reopening the nation too soon, Mr Trump said: "There's also death involved in keeping it closed." | When questioned about the dangers of reopening the nation too soon, Mr Trump said: "There's also death involved in keeping it closed." |
| He cited mental health issues, saying suicide hotlines were "exploding" as the economy freezes. | He cited mental health issues, saying suicide hotlines were "exploding" as the economy freezes. |
| Millions of Americans have lost their jobs due to lockdown measures across the country, and unemployment numbers are at record levels. | Millions of Americans have lost their jobs due to lockdown measures across the country, and unemployment numbers are at record levels. |
| Retail sales dropped by 8.7% in March, the biggest decline since tracking began in 1992, according to government data released on Wednesday. | Retail sales dropped by 8.7% in March, the biggest decline since tracking began in 1992, according to government data released on Wednesday. |
| Meanwhile, the governors of Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania each issued orders or guidelines that residents should wear face masks as they venture into society in the coming weeks. | Meanwhile, the governors of Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania each issued orders or guidelines that residents should wear face masks as they venture into society in the coming weeks. |
| "We are going to be getting back to normal - it will be a new normal," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said. | "We are going to be getting back to normal - it will be a new normal," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said. |
| On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said large gatherings such as sports events and concerts would probably not be allowed in the city until 2021. | On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said large gatherings such as sports events and concerts would probably not be allowed in the city until 2021. |
| US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meanwhile said China must show "full transparency" on coronavirus, during a call with his Beijing counterpart, Yang Jiechi, the Department of State said. | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meanwhile said China must show "full transparency" on coronavirus, during a call with his Beijing counterpart, Yang Jiechi, the Department of State said. |
| Mr Pompeo has repeatedly accused Beijing of covering up the scale of the outbreak in the early days, which China denies. | Mr Pompeo has repeatedly accused Beijing of covering up the scale of the outbreak in the early days, which China denies. |