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President Trump has set a goal for the United States to be "opened up and raring to go" by Easter on April 12, labelling it a “beautiful timeline” to work towards. The optimistic message of economic resurrection clashes with advice from public health experts as well as the World Health Oragnization, who have warned that the United States could be the new coronavirus epicentre.

COVID-19 cases in the US have soared, representing 40 per cent of new global cases over the past 24 hours. However, President Trump believes the economic downturn could result in more fatalities than the coronavirus pandemic itself. After announcing plans to breathe new life into the country’s economy by Easter, President Trump said there would be “thousands of suicides” if the United States was allowed to fall into a deep recession.

"You can destroy a country this way, by closing it down,” President Trump said.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says the Easter deadline should be “flexible”, warning for a “need to evaluate the feasibility” of the goal.