President Trump signaled he is open to creating a second White House task force for implementing a plan to reopen the American economy, which is now virtually shut down by the coronavirus.

"Thinking about it, getting a group of people and we have to open our country," Trump told reporters Saturday. "You know, I had an expression, the cure can't be worse than the problem itself. Right? I started by saying that, and I continue to say it. The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself. We got to get our country open."

The president sent a tweet hours earlier endorsing the idea, floated by Fox News anchor and former White House press secretary Dana Perino.

"I think we need a 2nd task force assembled at direction of POTUS to look ahead to reopening of the economy. Made up of a nonpartisan/bipartisan mix of experts across industry sectors, so that we have their recommendations & plan," Perino said.

"Good idea Dana!" Trump responded.





Trump has expressed he is eager to get American businesses back up and running as soon as possible. The outbreak of the virus, and the resulting statewide lockdowns to slow the spread, has crippled the U.S. economy and put millions of U.S. citizens out of work.

More than 6 million U.S. citizens filed for unemployment benefits last week, and the national unemployment figure is expected to soon reach 10%.

Next week, the federal government will begin sending money to U.S. citizens affected financially by the pandemic after Congress passed a $2 trillion economic relief bill last month.

A week ago, Trump extended the national guidelines urging the public to practice social distancing to April 30 and predicted the country has a "very very difficult" couple weeks ahead.

More than 8,400 people have died in the United States as a result of the coronavirus, and U.S. health officials have predicted that number could reach at least 100,000.