US With Over 83,553 Coronavirus Cases, Overtakes China, Italy As Experts Warn Death Toll Could Reach 80,000

The United State has now confirmed Coronavirus cases more than any other country, with over 85,500 positive cases.

According to the latest figures collated by Johns Hopkins University, this figure supersedes that of China (81,782 cases) and Italy (80,589).

But with almost 1,300 Covid-19-related fatalities, the US death toll lags behind China (3,291) and Italy (8,215).

The uprise came as President Donald Trump predicted the nation would get back to work “pretty quickly”.

With about 40 percent of Americans under lockdown orders, Trump urged citizens to do their part by practicing social distancing: “Stay home. Just relax, stay home.”

Vice-President Mike Pence said coronavirus tests were now available in all 50 states and more than 552,000 tests had been conducted nationwide.

President Trump also cast doubt on the figures coming out of Beijing, telling reporters: “You don’t know what the numbers are in China.”

But later, he tweeted that he had had a “very good conversation” with China’s President Xi Jinping.

President Trump added that;

China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!

President Trump has set a much-criticised goal of Easter Sunday, 12 April, for reopening the country, after it emerged on Thursday that over 3.3 million Americans have been laid off because of the virus.