Trump warns US faces 'toughest week' ahead in outbreak

US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to brace for the "toughest week," with coronavirus fatalities expected to spike.

"There's going to be a lot of deaths," he stressed during a White House briefing.

"We are coming up to a time that is going to be very horrendous. We probably have never seen anything like these kind of numbers. Maybe during the war, during a World War One or Two or something."

The country has recorded more than 311,000 positive cases and over 8.400 deaths, with White House medical experts forecasting the death toll to be anywhere between 100,000 to 240,000.

Meanwhile, the leader refuted allegations of medical equipment shortage and blamed some governors for asking for more than they need.