Trump: April 30 'social distancing' could save one million American lives

President Trump said Monday that epidemic modeling shows that maintaining "social distancing" through April 30 could save one million Americans from perishing from the coronavirus. 

"We have no other choice," Trump said. "Every one of us has a role to play in winning this war. Every citizen, family and business can make a difference in stopping the virus. This is our shared, patriotic duty. Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days. We're sort of putting it all on the line this 30 days."

The president announced Sunday that his administration's social distancing guidelines will remain in place until the end of April.

The announcement comes after the president last week said he hoped to see the country resuming more normal activity by Easter Sunday, April 12.

Trump also spoke after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned Sunday that 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die from the virus and that millions could be infected.

The president also announced that more than a million Americans had been tested for coronavirus. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Monday said that the United States was testing 100,000 samples per day. 

President Trump expressed optimism Monday about immunity testing helping slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

Abbott Laboratories on Friday received emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to get the tests into labs and healthcare facilities. Experts say the test could determine within five minutes if someone is infected with coronavirus.

“I think it’s going to be a big help. We’re very close,” Trump said Monday on the Fox New Channel’s morning show “Fox and Friends.” “We are refining the final steps. They are having some tremendous success.”

The mayor of Washington, D.C., and the governors of Maryland and Virginia on Monday each issued stay-at-home orders to maintain social distancing as the coronavirus continues to spread and officials try to eliminate more outbreaks and hotspots.