On Tuesday, the White House delivered grim news, as President Donald Trump warned Americans to expect a tough two weeks ahead due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In his daily press briefing, Trump said that he wanted everyone to be prepared as the country might go through a “very very painful two weeks.” Trump made this announcement as coronavirus cases continue to increase in New York and New Jersey.

The administration revealed a grim projection stating that the country can suffer up to 240,000 COVID-19 related deaths, despite the administration’s aggressive measures to contain and mitigate the virus. “The surge is coming, and it’s coming pretty strong,” Trump added, and that it will become a matter of “life and death.”

Projection over the possible coronavirus casualties had been initially made by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the spokesperson for the administration’s coronavirus task force. Based on the recent data, Fauci claimed that if the infection rose to a million, the country might see a whopping 200,000 deaths. Fauci also added that although the administration had to face such a possibility, it does not necessarily mean that the numbers are “inevitable.” Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, also reminded the public that there is “no magic vaccine” that can possibly cure the deadly virus. Because of this, the doctor reminded everyone to do their part to flatten the curve, which includes observing social distancing as well as staying at home.

The president assured the American public that, like any other crisis, there would be “light at the end of the tunnel.” He also encourages people to continue to stay strong and promise that soon, things will get better.

Finally, Trump went on to spread a message of hope by saying that America will rise to the crisis with “love, courage, and ironclad resolve.” He continued to ask for Americans to forget about bipartisanship and to unite as a country.

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Based on the most recent data, the “Chinese virus” had infected nearly 170,000 Americans and killed more than 3,800. To combat this, the administration held mass testing and is currently the leading country in terms of coronavirus tests. In fact, the country has reached another milestone as more than one million Americans have already been tested for COVID-19. To hasten the process, the FDA also gave Abbot Laboratories the green light to implement a new rapid testing kit.

Moreover, in terms of medical equipment, Trump assured that the country has 10,000 reserved ventilators in which the administration will strategically dole out on coronavirus hotspots.

The truth is, the struggle to combat the coronavirus is not just in America, but a crisis that almost all countries across the globe had to deal with. In his statement, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres claimed that coronavirus remains the“most challenging crisis we have faced” since the second world war.