Donald Trump won’t lift coronavirus restrictions by Easter but expects more than 100,000 to die from coronavirus

President Donald Trump is no longer pushing to lift coronavirus restrictions by Easter. However, the POTUS shared some startling estimates by saying more than 100,000 Americans could die from the virus.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced during a White House news conference that his administration will be extending the nationwide social distancing guidelines by another thirty days, according to CNN. While the President previously floated the idea that restrictions could be eased in time for Easter, the new extension meant that restrictions such as the ban on gatherings and distancing will still be effect until April 30.

In addition, Trump shared some startling estimates to the press. If the government did nothing, he believes that coronavirus deaths could reach as high as 2.2 million.

“You’re talking about 2.2 million deaths,” Trump said during the conference, Vox reported. The President is referring to a study by the Imperial College that estimated as many as 2.2 Americans could die if the government won’t take any measures to slow down the virus’ spread.

But with his administration’s fight against the coronavirus, Trump believes that he could significantly reduce the loss of lives due to the COVID-19. The administration expects that between 100,000 and 200,000 would lose their lives due to the pathogen. He also pointed out that he’ll consider his team of having done a good job if they could manage to control the total death toll within those limits.

“So if we can hold that down, as we’re saying, to 100,000, it’s a horrible number, maybe even less, but to 100,000, so we have between 100 [thousand] and 200,000, we altogether have done a very good job,” Donald Trump added.

Many were pleasantly surprised by Trump’s newfound realism as it is likely that medical experts might have finally convinced him. Earlier, the POTUS was criticized when he announced plans of opening up the economy by Easter.

Earlier this month, Trump tried to downplay the virus’ threat by comparing it to the influenza virus. “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu,” he tweeted on March 9. “It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”