The US economy could shrink by 30% or more this quarter if you order people to stay at home aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, stifling business. In addition, it may take several years before the economy recovers, said former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

“Overall, this can be a very bad year for the economy”, said Ben Bernanke during an online event at Brookings Institution. According to him, the answers through fiscal and monetary policy are good so far, but more will be needed. “There are things we can do to open the economy, perhaps significantly, but I do not see the economy returning to a more normal state until there is more confidence that opening the economy will not restart the crisis”, added he.

Yet, he says, history suggests that the recovery will be much shorter than what followed the financial crisis in 2007-2009.

Meanwhile, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Donald Trump administration is aiming to reopen the US economy when major health care professionals in the country give the green light, but that Americans’ lives will be particularly different.

Even when people in the US return to work or school, they will probably have to stay home when they show symptoms of illness, there will be more testing, and routine temperature checks will have to be done, Kudlow said in an interview for Politico.

“We are aware that things will be different”, he said. “This will be a new part of American life”, adds Kudlow.

It is unclear when the country, which is largely under blockade due to the pandemic, will return to normal activities.