A senior ally of President Donald Trump has encouraged people to go out to restaurants despite administration health officials encouraging “social distancing” to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Representative Devin Nunes of California, speaking on Fox News on Sunday morning, told host Maria Bartiromo that there were a “lot of concerns for the economy here, because people are scared to go out.”

“If you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to go out and go to a local restaurant, likely you can get in easy. Let’s not hurt the working people in this country that are relying on wages and tips to keep their small businesses running,” he said.

He added: “Don’t run to the grocery store and buy $4,000 worth of food… go to your local pub.”

Mr Nunes’ statement came at almost exactly the same moment that Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told CBS’ Face The Nation: “Right now, myself personally, I wouldn't go to a restaurant.”

Dr Fauci, one of the most important members of the coronavirus taskforce, is a key proponent of social distancing and isolation in an effort to curb the pandemic’s spread.

The comments from Mr Nunes raised questions on Twitter as the why some officials seem to keep thinking of coronavirus as an economic problem, whereas others called his comments “dangerous”.

Andy Slavitt, the former Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act head for the Obama administration, commented: “Please watch and do the opposite. He has no training to make this recommendation. I promise not to give advice in his area of expertise.”

Mr Slavitt is an also an advocate for “social distancing” saying it is vital to try and stop a 'tsunami' of coronavirus cases overrunning America's hospitals.