Coronavirus: President Trump Laments 'Horrible' Death Toll

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump on Friday bemoaned the "horrible" number of Americans who have died due to the new coronavirus as the death toll worldwide topped 100,000, including more than 18,000 in the United States.

But "in the midst of grief and pain," Trump said the United States is seeing "clear signs" that its aggressive social distancing strategy is working, echoing sentiments felt by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Among the strongest pieces of evidence the national curve is flattening: the number of hospital admissions is falling in many places.

Trump, who has floated notions of restarting the economy by early May, pointed to models projecting U.S. death rates far lower than originally estimated, and lower than other countries.

"We're saving so many lives compared to what it could have been," Trump said, noting projections are now closer to 60,000 deaths in the country, far lower than the 100,000 previously anticipated.

See also: U.S. Coronavirus Blog: Infection Spike Projected If Orders Lifted

Even so, he said he would listen to the advice of health experts if they expressed reservations about a potential spike in infections that could result from restarting the economy too soon. Both Trump and Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said they had not seen reported projections by the federal Homeland Security and Health and Human Services agencies that showed such a spike could happen should stay-at-home orders and school closures be lifted.

Birx said the rate of doubling in many places has fallen to eight days, an encouraging sign.

"You can see for the first time in the United States we’re starting to level on a logarithmic phase like Italy did a week ago," Birx said.

She noted the need for social distancing continues until the nation gets to the back side of its peak.

The president said he plans to announce Tuesday a new council of doctors and businesspeople — an "Opening Our Country Task Force," separate from the White House Coronavirus Task Force" — and reiterated he wants to open the country as soon as possible. He's closely watching how the virus impacts other countries that have started trying to restart the economy.

Trump said the U.S. will help Mexico reduce its oil production amid a massive fall in demand. Nations in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, have met recently and agreed to reduce the world's oil supply by 23 percent amid the pandemic. Trump said the U.S. is stockpiling oil and that there's a "glut." The U.S. no longer has a place to store the excess oil, he said, noting it now has enough in reserve to last multiple years.

Dr. Jerome Adams, the surgeon general, on Friday addressed racial gaps that exist in the number of people who are becoming infected. He said that while people of color are not biologically predisposed to the virus, they are socially predisposed. Many live in densely populated areas and aren't able to work from home, leaving them more exposed. Furthermore, minority communities see higher rates of underlying health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.