[Anchor]
Over 4,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in the United States, surpassing China's official toll.
Officials are warning the number of deaths could be much higher if Americans do not take social distancing and isolation guidelines seriously.
Ron Chang reports.
[Reporter]
During a briefing Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he wants Americans "to be prepared for the hard days that lay ahead."
[Clip: Trump: 00:12]
"We're gonna go through a very hard two weeks and then hopefully as the experts are predicting, we're gonna start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel. But this is going to be a very painful, very very painful two weeks."
The grim projection came as the White House estimated there could be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the country even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the U.S. government's coronavirus task force, said these figures could be avoided if all Americans take seriously their role in preventing the disease from spreading.
[Clip: Birx: 00:13]
"There's no magic vaccine or therapy. It's just behaviors, each of our behaviors, translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic over the next 30 days."
Meanwhile, the debate continues on whether the American public should wear face masks.
Earlier, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most people do not need to wear masks and then a couple of days ago said it may consider a recommendation to encourage broader use.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's infectious disease chief, said the White House is looking into the idea.
He stressed, however, that the U.S. needs to first make sure that such a move wouldn't take away from the supply for health workers.
For now, the CDC recommends Americans not to wear face masks if they're not sick unless they are caring for someone who is sick and they are not able to wear one.
Ron Chang, eFM News.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
