WH officials had previously predicted a death total of 100,000 to 240,000 from the virus. Some states have already begun slowly reopening, including New York, which has been the hardest hit state in the US. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday some non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen on Friday, declaring a partial victory over the virus, saying, "we are on the other side of the mountain."

The president celebrated the coronavirus numbers on Monday even though the country has nearly eclipsed the low end of his administration's death toll predictions. "Coronavirus numbers are looking MUCH better, going down almost everywhere. Big progress being made!" he tweeted, later showing support for anti-lockdown protestors in states like Pennsylvania and blasting Democrat governors for "moving slowly" in reopening their states for "political purposes."

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