Donald Trump answered questions about the coronavirus at the US Capitol in Washington DC Tuesday, and insisted Americans would overcome the virus (Picture: AP)

Donald Trump attempted to calm Americans’ nerves over the worsening coronavirus crisis by telling them: ‘Be calm, it’s really working out. A lot of good things are going to happen.

The President of the United States made his latest statement on the epidemic Tuesday, when he also urged Americans to ‘just stay calm,’ adding: ‘It will go away.’

Trump seemed to suggest his mooted tax relief for workers will help stave off a feared recession through encouraging worried Americans to stimulate the economy by going out and spending their exta cash.

He explained: ‘We’re prepared, we’re doing a great job with it…We want to protect our shipping industry, our cruise industry, everyone has to be vigilant.


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‘The consumer is ready, the consumer in our country is so powerful, tax cuts and regulation cuts and all of those things. The consumer has never been in a better position than they are not. ‘



The US coronavirus death toll currently stands at 28, with 795 cases so far diagnosed. Earlier today, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar admitted he does not know how many Americans have tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. It has infected more than 110,000 and killed over 4,000 people worldwide.

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America has been criticized for being slow to bring tests online, with experts warning that the number of cases could explode when widespread testing is finally implemented and the true scale of the epidemic is revealed.

But Trump insisted his coronavirus task force – led by Vice President Mike Pence – was fulfilling its brief, and cited praise from California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom for how his administration dealt with a cruise ship quarantined off the California coast.

President Trump also insisted that if Americans could keep calm the crisis would soon pass (Picture: EPA)

Trump said: ‘Very good updates on the virus, it’s working out very smoothly. Tremendous people. Had we not acted quickly that number was substantially more.’

The president also cited an apparent slowdown in diagnoses in China, where coronavirus was first spotted in January – although experts have warned western democracies will be unable to replicate its draconian crackdowns on people leaving their homes.

Trump said: ‘Some very good numbers coming out of some countries where it started earlier…including China. They’ve released numbers, and we’ve got some numbers from China, which re pretty promising.’

And the president revealed that he had not taken a test personally, despite several close associated self-isolating in recent days after coming into close contact with a man infected with coronavirus.

Trump said: ‘I don’t think (testing is) a big deal.

‘I would do it. I don’t feel any reason, I feel extremely good.

‘But I guess it’s not a big deal to get tested and its something I would do. I spoke to the White House doctor. Terrific guy, talented guy, he sees no reason to do it. No symptoms, no anything.’