ABC News March 31, 2020

Coronavirus government response updates: Grim Trump, doctors say prepare for potential 100K to 240K deaths

WATCH: Guidelines represent 'a matter of life and death': Trump

The federal government has been rolling out its response to the novel coronavirus crisis, trying to slow the spread and prop up the economy, amid a volatile stock market and record unemployment numbers.

After the nation’s top health officials warned the death toll from COVID-19 could reach 200,000, even with mitigation efforts, President Donald Trump has abruptly changed his messaging and extended the White House coronavirus guidelines through the month of April.

While last week he stressed a need for Americans to get back to work and said he envisioned "packed churches" on Easter, the president now says the COVID-19 death toll will peak around the holiday and signaled normalcy may not return until June 1 or later.