President Trump expressed optimism about the coronavirus situation, stating that despite a forthcoming peak in deaths, the U.S. will see improvement soon. The government is distributing 1,700 ventilators and sending protective equipment, including 800,000 N95 masks, to areas hardest hit by the virus. Meanwhile, international updates include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson being hospitalized due to persistent coronavirus symptoms and Queen Elizabeth's call for unity in a rare address.

1. 1,700 ventilators being distributed as nation faces
"toughest" week yet, Trump says
President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence voiced optimism Sunday
on the coronavirus pandemic and described cases of disease appear to be
leveling. "The U.S. will reach a horrific point in terms of death, but it will be
a point where things will start changing for the better," Mr. Trump said.
The president said that by Tuesday, 3,000 military and public health workers
will have been deployed across the country. He said the U.S. has conducted
and received results of more than 1.6 million coronavirus tests. He also said
that treatments for coronavirus — including erythromycin — be looked at
closely. Mr. Trump said the U.S. has stockpiled some 29 million doses
of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, which has not been clinically
proven to be safe or successful in treating coronavirus.
"It would be a shame if we didn't turn to these drugs early if it turns out
they are helpful," he said during the briefing.
Mr. Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
delivered critical ventilators to several states battling COVID-19, the disease
caused by coronavirus:
500 to New Jersey
200 to Louisiana
600 to Illinois
100 to Massachusetts

2. 300 to Michigan
The president praised Washington state Governor Jay Inslee for his
announcement that 400 ventilators sent there will be returned to the
federal stockpile so they can be redeployed to other states being hit hard by
coronavirus.
New Jersey has become a hot zone, Mr. Trump said, and said the news that
the fatality rate in New York has dropped is "maybe a good sign."
On Monday, the government is sending some 600,000 N95 masks to
medical personnel in New York state, the epicenter for the coronavirus
outbreak in the U.S., according to the president. The U.S. will also send
some 200,000 N95 masks to Suffolk County, Long Island.
Mr. Trump had warned Saturday that the upcoming week will be the
"toughest" one yet in the crisis. "This will probably be the toughest week
between this week and next week, and a lot of death, unfortunately," Mr.
Trump said Saturday.
Sunday's briefing comes just hours after 10 Downing Street announced
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tested positive for coronavirus 10 days
ago, has been hospitalized. He "continues to have persistent symptoms of
coronavirus," including a high fever, a spokeswoman said in a statement.
It was described as a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor,
the spokeswoman said.

3. Mr. Trump sent Johnson his well wishes and described the prime minister as
a "strong man." "I'm hopeful and sure he will be fine," the president said.
Also in the U.K., Queen Elizabeth gave a rare national address Sunday night,
emphasizing the need for "self-discipline" and unity. "We will be with our
friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again," she
said.