US coronavirus news: Trump says economy 'may be' heading for recession as White House issues new Covid-19 guidelines
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump said the coronavirus outbreak could trigger a recession on Monday, as states across the country prepared to enter into lockdown with shops and venues closing nationwide.
The president said the US "may" see a recession as a result of the outbreak, but added that "the market will take care of itself" during a press conference at the White House.
The Dow Jones plummeted 3,000 points on Monday, reflecting the market's worst one-day point drop in history. Monday's drop came just one day after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to near-zero, a dramatic move that appeared to do little to restore confidence in the market, while cities and states across the US announced sweeping closures to avoid spreading the virus.
Meanwhile, San Francisco's mayor ordered the city's residents to "shelter at home" for three weeks in one of the most stringent responses yet to the coronavirus by a major US city.
The death toll rose to at least 69 and the number of cases in the US rose to more than 3,500, with experts suggesting those numbers are actually far higher due to the lack of nationwide testing.
The White House has meanwhile been forced to deny rumours of a national quarantine and nightly curfews, as reports indicated the US Health and Human Services Department suffered an attempted cyber attack amid its response to the pandemic.
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Dr Fauci describes new guidelines as 'well thought out'
One of the top doctors in the country is joining Donald Trump at today's press conference, saying the "best way" to address the pandemic would be to do something that may appear to be an "overreaction" -
Trump says this will likely be the new normal until "August, maybe July"
The president said when asked about whether this is the "new normal" that it most likely will be until about "August, maybe July", saying "we look forward to the day when things will go back to normal".
Trump says economy "may be" heading for a recession
The president told reporters just now that the economy very well "may be" heading towards a recession as the stock market continues to plunge amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump says there may be ‘foreign groups playing games’ as HHS suffers cyber attack amid coronavirus pandemic
The president suggested there are foreign actors who may have implemented a cyber attack against US Health and Human Services.
Trump says this may go on until August
Here's The Independent's Andrew Buncombe with more on the president's statements about a potential societal slowdown until August -
White House says one million tests are currently available
The administration has said another 1.9 million tests will be made available within the coming days and weeks aheads, and at least 5 million tests in about two weeks.
Trump says 'not everyone should get the test'
The president said that people who do not have symptoms associated with the virus should go ahead and get the test for COVID-19 taken.
Trump says postponing elections is 'unnecessary'
The president also said he is "talking about different things" when it comes to closing the nation's northern border with Canada.
Pence concludes today's press briefing
The vice president said he is in "constant consultation" with a White House physician but that he nor his wife have been tested for the coronavirus.
The president then tweeted recommendations to slow the spread of the virus over the next 15 days:
Saturday Night Live suspends production
Saturday Night Live has announced that it will suspend production for three weeks in order to protect against the coronavirus.
Hollywood Reporter cited a source with knowledge of the suspension.
SNL joins a number of other US TV shows that are filmed in front of a live studio audience in stopping filming, including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
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