US President Donald Trump has threatened to fire his lead virus expert Dr Anthony Fauci after he criticised him for slow response to tackle coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-could-start-reopening-in-may-says-top-virus-advisor-292153" hreflang="en">US could start reopening in May, says top virus advisor</a>

Trump retweeted&nbsp;a post calling for the government’s top infectious disease specialist to be fired after the doctor acknowledged that shutting down the country earlier could have saved lives.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-over-21300-coronavirus-deaths-us-spends-easter-sunday-on-lockdown-292129" hreflang="en">With over 21,300 coronavirus deaths, US spends Easter Sunday on lockdown</a>

The tweet, which was written by Republican DeAnna Lorraine who is running for Congress, said:

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Fauci is now saying that had Trump listened to the medical experts earlier he could've saved more lives. 
 
Fauci was telling people on February 29th that there was nothing to worry about and it posed no threat to the US public at large. 
 
Time to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FireFauci?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FireFauci</a>...
— DeAnna Lorraine 🇺🇸 (@DeAnna4Congress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAnna4Congress/status/1249457858686656512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, in a television interview Fauci&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;a New York Times report&nbsp;which said he and other Trump administration officials recommended the implementation of physical distancing to combat the coronavirus in February, but were rebuffed for almost a month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/here-comes-the-sun-gets-us-hospitals-through-dark-days-of-pandemic-292151" hreflang="en">'Here Comes the Sun' gets US hospitals through dark days of pandemic</a>

Asked on why the administration did not act when he and other officials advised, Fauci said that, ''when we make a recommendation it is necessary that it will be taken up''.

More than 559,000 cases of Covid-19 have been&nbsp;confirmed in the United States along with&nbsp;22,115 deaths.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to fire his lead virus expert Dr Anthony Fauci after he criticised him for slow response to tackle coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to fire his lead virus expert Dr Anthony Fauci after he criticised him for slow response to tackle coronavirus pandemic. Also read: US could start reopening in May, says top virus advisor Trump retweeted a post calling for the government’s top infectious disease specialist to be fired after the doctor acknowledged that shutting down the country earlier could have saved lives. Also read: With over 21,300 coronavirus deaths, US spends Easter Sunday on lockdown The tweet, which was written by Republican DeAnna Lorraine who is running for Congress, said: Fauci is now saying that had Trump listened to the medical experts earlier he could've saved more lives. Fauci was telling people on February 29th that there was nothing to worry about and it posed no threat to the US public at large. Time to #FireFauci... — DeAnna Lorraine 🇺🇸 (@DeAnna4Congress) April 12, 2020 × Earlier, in a television interview Fauci confirmed a New York Times report which said he and other Trump administration officials recommended the implementation of physical distancing to combat the coronavirus in February, but were rebuffed for almost a month. Also read: 'Here Comes the Sun' gets US hospitals through dark days of pandemic Asked on why the administration did not act when he and other officials advised, Fauci said that, ''when we make a recommendation it is necessary that it will be taken up''. More than 559,000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the United States along with 22,115 deaths.

Why is Donald Trump threatening to fire his lead virus expert?

US health officials made cautiously optimistic noises about coronavirus despite high death tolls Thursday, suggesting Americans might be able to take summer holidays, as falling hospitalization rates hint at a turning point in the battle against COVID-19.

With unemployment skyrocketing and the economy tanking, President Donald Trump is keen to lift social confinement measures and get the United States open for business again as soon as possible.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wobbles-as-new-york-becomes-coronavirus-epicentre-291628" hreflang="en">Trump wobbles as New York becomes coronavirus epicentre</a>

Trump's top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci warned America cannot be reopened overnight due to the threat of further waves of infections,but said it could be up and running again by the summer months.

That is, he said, providing citizens adhere to social distancing guidelines and widespread stay-at-home orders, which have the vast majority of Americans on lockdown, throughout April.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-new-york-reports-new-one-day-record-death-toll-as-governor-cuomo-says-hospitalizations-have-fallen-291631" hreflang="en">COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen</a>

Nationwide, the US recorded 1,783 death over the past 24 hours, down by 190 from Wednesday's record-breaking toll.

The country has suffered more than 16,500 virus-related fatalities -- the second-highest number in the world after Italy. And it has emerged as the country with the most&nbsp;coronavirus cases, at more than 460,000.

When asked by "CBS This Morning" whether he could envision a summer of vacations, baseball games, weddings and family get-togethers, infectious disease expert Fauci replied, "It can be in the cards."

His comments came as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo struck a similar tone of cautious optimism despite the state reporting a record single-day death toll for the third time this week Thursday.

New York is bearing the brunt of the United States' deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting&nbsp;for around half the number of deaths across the country.

Cuomo said COVID-19 had claimed the lives of 799 New Yorkers in the past 24 hours, bringing the state's death toll to more than 7,000 and outdoing the previous high of 779 announced on Wednesday.

He added though that the curve was flattening because of social distancing orders.&nbsp;

New York is bearing the brunt of the United States' deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting&nbsp;for around half the number of deaths

US health officials made cautiously optimistic noises about coronavirus despite high death tolls Thursday, suggesting Americans might be able to take summer holidays, as falling hospitalization rates hint at a turning point in the battle against COVID-19.

US health officials made cautiously optimistic noises about coronavirus despite high death tolls Thursday, suggesting Americans might be able to take summer holidays, as falling hospitalization rates hint at a turning point in the battle against COVID-19. With unemployment skyrocketing and the economy tanking, President Donald Trump is keen to lift social confinement measures and get the United States open for business again as soon as possible. Also read: Trump wobbles as New York becomes coronavirus epicentre Trump's top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci warned America cannot be reopened overnight due to the threat of further waves of infections,but said it could be up and running again by the summer months. That is, he said, providing citizens adhere to social distancing guidelines and widespread stay-at-home orders, which have the vast majority of Americans on lockdown, throughout April. Also read: COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen Nationwide, the US recorded 1,783 death over the past 24 hours, down by 190 from Wednesday's record-breaking toll. The country has suffered more than 16,500 virus-related fatalities -- the second-highest number in the world after Italy. And it has emerged as the country with the most coronavirus cases, at more than 460,000. When asked by "CBS This Morning" whether he could envision a summer of vacations, baseball games, weddings and family get-togethers, infectious disease expert Fauci replied, "It can be in the cards." His comments came as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo struck a similar tone of cautious optimism despite the state reporting a record single-day death toll for the third time this week Thursday. New York is bearing the brunt of the United States' deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting for around half the number of deaths across the country. Cuomo said COVID-19 had claimed the lives of 799 New Yorkers in the past 24 hours, bringing the state's death toll to more than 7,000 and outdoing the previous high of 779 announced on Wednesday. He added though that the curve was flattening because of social distancing orders. New York is bearing the brunt of the United States' deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting for around half the number of deaths

US cautiously optimistic as coronavirus curve appears to flatten

A day after New York reported 779 deaths due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-in-locally-transmitted-covid-19-cases-raises-concern-in-singapore-291565">coronavirus</a>, city authorities said 799 people had died in the last 24 hours.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-100-doctors-succumb-to-covid-19-as-italy-death-toll-crosses-over-17600-291601">Also Read: Over 100 doctors succumb to COVID-19 as Italy death toll crosses over 17,600</a>

Even as New York has become the epicenter of the virus in America, &nbsp;Governor Andrew Cuomo said the rate of hospitalizations has fallen.&nbsp;

"We had a 200-net increase in hospitalizations, which you can see is the lowest number we've had since this nightmare started," Cuomo said.

The New York governor asserted that ICU admissions have also fallen. According to Johns Hopkins university coronavirus tracker, the pandemic has killed over 14,800 people in the United States and infected over 432,000 - the highest in the world.

Cuomo had earlier said the curve was "flattening" even as New York continued to battle the virus.

Meanwhile, Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and infectious diseases, said summer holidays "can be in the cards" but added, "we have to be prepared that when the infections start to rear their heads again that we have in place a very aggressive and effective way to identify, isolate, contact, trace and make sure we don't have those spikes we have now."

"It is very likely that we will progress towards the steps towards normalization as we get to the end of these thirty days," Fauci asserted.

"And I think that’s going to be a good time to look and see how quickly can we make that move to try and normalize. But hopefully, by the time we get to the summer we will have taken many steps in that direction," he said.

A day after New York reported 779 deaths due to coronavirus, city authorities said 799 people had died in the last 24 hours. Also Read: Over 100 doctors succumb to COVID-19 as Italy death toll crosses over 17,600 Even as New York has become the epicenter of the virus in America, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the rate of hospitalizations has fallen.

A day after New York reported 779 deaths due to coronavirus, city authorities said 799 people had died in the last 24 hours. Also Read: Over 100 doctors succumb to COVID-19 as Italy death toll crosses over 17,600 Even as New York has become the epicenter of the virus in America, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the rate of hospitalizations has fallen. "We had a 200-net increase in hospitalizations, which you can see is the lowest number we've had since this nightmare started," Cuomo said. The New York governor asserted that ICU admissions have also fallen. According to Johns Hopkins university coronavirus tracker, the pandemic has killed over 14,800 people in the United States and infected over 432,000 - the highest in the world. Cuomo had earlier said the curve was "flattening" even as New York continued to battle the virus. Meanwhile, Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and infectious diseases, said summer holidays "can be in the cards" but added, "we have to be prepared that when the infections start to rear their heads again that we have in place a very aggressive and effective way to identify, isolate, contact, trace and make sure we don't have those spikes we have now." "It is very likely that we will progress towards the steps towards normalization as we get to the end of these thirty days," Fauci asserted. "And I think that’s going to be a good time to look and see how quickly can we make that move to try and normalize. But hopefully, by the time we get to the summer we will have taken many steps in that direction," he said.

COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen

The leading US government infectious disease expert&nbsp;Dr&nbsp;Anthony&nbsp;Fauci&nbsp;offered a grim prediction on Sunday: the coronavirus could kill as many as 200,000 Americans.

''I mean, looking at what we’re seeing now, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 … deaths,''&nbsp;Fauci said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/easter-should-be-the-peak-number-trump-on-coronavirus-death-toll-in-us-289340" hreflang="en">Easter should be the peak number: Trump on coronavirus death toll in US</a>

He&nbsp;played down worst-case predictions of one million or more deaths, instead offering a rough estimate of 100,000 to 200,000 deaths and "millions of cases."

Though he quickly added, "I don't want to be held to that ... It's such a moving target that you can so easily be wrong and mislead people."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ditches-hopes-of-quick-coronavirus-bounce-back-for-us-289337" hreflang="en">Trump ditches hopes of quick coronavirus bounce-back for US</a>

COVID-19 has hit the US with explosive force in recent weeks, following a path seen earlier in parts of Asia and Europe.

It took a month for the US to move from its first confirmed death, on February 29, to its 1,000 deaths.

But in two days this week that number doubled, to nearly 2,200 on Sunday. The case total of 142,356, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is the world's highest.

US President Donald Trump has extended the social distancing guidelines till April 30.

The leading US government infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci offered a grim prediction on Sunday: the coronavirus could kill as many as 200,000 Americans.

The leading US government infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci offered a grim prediction on Sunday: the coronavirus could kill as many as 200,000 Americans. ''I mean, looking at what we’re seeing now, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 … deaths,'' Fauci said. Also read: Easter should be the peak number: Trump on coronavirus death toll in US He played down worst-case predictions of one million or more deaths, instead offering a rough estimate of 100,000 to 200,000 deaths and "millions of cases." Though he quickly added, "I don't want to be held to that ... It's such a moving target that you can so easily be wrong and mislead people." Also read: Trump ditches hopes of quick coronavirus bounce-back for US COVID-19 has hit the US with explosive force in recent weeks, following a path seen earlier in parts of Asia and Europe. It took a month for the US to move from its first confirmed death, on February 29, to its 1,000 deaths. But in two days this week that number doubled, to nearly 2,200 on Sunday. The case total of 142,356, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is the world's highest. US President Donald Trump has extended the social distancing guidelines till April 30.

US coronavirus death toll can surge to 200,000, says lead virus expert

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Why is Donald Trump threatening to fire his lead virus expert?

US cautiously optimistic as coronavirus curve appears to flatten

COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen

US coronavirus death toll can surge to 200,000, says lead virus expert