WH Raises Deaths Estimate To As High As 240,000

March 31, 2020 Coronavirus, Trump Administration

USA Today reports:

Members of President Donald Trump’s administration laid out dire estimates Tuesday to underscore the potential impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, a grim prediction they said was at the center of the president’s decision to extend strict social distancing guidelines through the end of April.

Federal public health officials said that between 100,000 and 240,000 could succumb to the virus by the end of the year – making it one of the nation’s worst public health crises – said Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator. Without intervention, Birx said, as many 2.2 million could have died.

Trump’s “acceptable” number of deaths

Sunday: 100,000
Monday: 200,000
Today: 240,000

— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) March 31, 2020

White House projects 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in US from coronavirus pandemic if social distancing maintained. pic.twitter.com/k34pwEdwET

— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) March 31, 2020