2. But restarting the economy won’t be fast or easy, business owners and economists warned.

The president has predicted that lifting business restrictions will rocket the economy out of a deep recession. And his trade adviser said that a prolonged shutdown could pose a more dire long-term health threat than the virus itself.

Data suggest that economic activity is likely to remain subdued for some time, partially because both workers and consumers, still scared of contracting the coronavirus, will be unlikely to return to airports, restaurants and sporting venues en masse any time soon.

Uncertainty about the virus has slowed economic activity even in places without state or local coronavirus lockdowns.