Active cases do not mean deaths
More active vases do, indeed, mean more deaths ya dummy.
The Admiral is too stupid to know that. He also thinks that more tests will result in more cases, and doing that wouldn't be good for the country.
He's wrong of course. If a person has it, they have it, and knowing if they have it or not will help to keep others safe. If they have it, self quarantine and wait it out until you test negative. If they don't, or if they show to have antibodies, let them go back to work.
Testing will stop the shelter in place orders quicker than anything, but unfortunately, the current leadership of this country doesn't see it that way.