Iran Press/ America: Mike Pence conceded on Wednesday that the US' coronavirus outbreak may be "most comparable" to Italy, the hardest-hit country in the world.
"We think Italy may be the most comparable area to the United States at this point," Pence said.
More than 12,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Italy, where the healthcare system has been massively overwhelmed.
For weeks, US president and other top US officials downplayed the threat the virus posed and insisted it had been or would be contained.
The White House announced on Tuesday that it predicts between 100,000 to 240,000 people could die in the US from the coronavirus even with strict social distancing measures in place.
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