Coronavirus live: Donald Trump says up to 100,000 Americans could die

The US President is confident a vaccine will be developed by the end of the year

US President Donald Trump speaks during a virtual town hall at Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA

New White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany consults White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and other Trump administration aides in the wings as US President Donald Trump participates in a live Fox News Channel virtual town hall called 'America Together: Returning to Work'. Reuters

President Donald Trump looks on during a Fox News virtual town hall from the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, co-moderated by FOX News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. AP Photo

Counsellor to the President, Hope Hicks, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News virtual town hall from the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, background centre and Vice President Mike Pence, background right, listen. AP Photo

US President Donald Trump speaks during a Fox News virtual town hall 'America Together: Returning to Work', event, with anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. AFP

US President Donald Trump consults with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Reuters

President Donald Trump is handed a drink between segments during a Fox News virtual town hall from the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington. AP Photo

Lightning illuminates the clouds of a thunderstorm behind the White House in Washington, DC, USA. EPA

Donald Trump said he now believes as many as 100,000 Americans could die in the coronavirus pandemic, after the death toll passed his earlier estimates.

The US president, however, expressed confidence that a vaccine would be developed by the year's end.

Mr Trump alternated during a two-hour virtual town hall broadcast between forecasting a rapid recovery for the US economy and casting blame for the pandemic's spread on China, where the disease is believed to have originated.

There's been more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases in the United States, and more than 67,000 have died.

The UAE on Sunday announced it has carried out 26,000 new tests for the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, uncovering 564 new cases, with 99 recoveries and seven deaths.

Other developments:

• India's coronavirus fight leaves other patients' lives in peril
• More than 60,000 Pakistanis await repatriation
• UAE scientists examine wastewater for clues on Covid-19 spread