President Donald Trump unveiled new guidelines on Thursday meant to help states loosen their social distancing restrictions, but in a retreat from his onetime claim of "absolute authority" to restart the economy, he told governors on an afternoon telephone call it was their decision on when and how to reopen.

"You are going to call your own shots," Trump said, according to a person familiar with the conversation. "I've gotten to know almost all of you, most of you I've known and some very well. You are all very capable people, I think in all cases, very capable people. And you're going to be calling your shots."

It was a turnabout from his Monday claim that "the President of the United States calls the shots" in how to ease restrictions that have kept most Americans indoors and forced closures of schools, restaurants, gyms and other businesses. And it was an indication that even as he tries to ease the country out of its virtual shutdown, Trump will place responsibility elsewhere should cases spike again.

As business leaders, lawmakers and governors warn persistent testing shortfalls could hamper any effort to reopen the country, Trump is pushing ahead with attempts to revive an economy moribund by the coronavirus pandemic. He said during his daily news conference the new guidelines amount to the start of the country's "rejuvenation."

"We're starting our life again," Trump said, even as it remains to be seen just how quickly any state returns to normal.

The new guidelines, meant to speed Trump's goal of restarting the country, won't be mandatory. Many governors have already extended restrictions into May or banded into regional collectives that will determine their own reopening plans. The newest consortium was created in the Midwest on Thursday by Democratic and Republican governors.

But Trump, eager to see a return to normalcy for housebound Americans, wants to provide at least a framework for how places can reopen despite warnings from all corners that testing capacity for coronavirus is still too small.

He said Thursday there were some states that, according to his new plan, could be ready to reopen tomorrow.

"If you look at Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota -- that's a lot different than New York, it's a lot different than New Jersey," Trump said.

New guidelines

In a document provided to all 50 US governors during an afternoon phone call and obtained by CNN, the White House spelled out a three-phase approach to easing restrictions that depends on meeting specific case count and hospital capacity thresholds.

The benchmarks for the first phase include a sustained decrease in cases over a 14-day period and a return to pre-crisis conditions in hospitals, according to the document.

States should have the "ability to quickly set up safe and efficient screening and testing sites," the guidelines read, and "quickly and independently supply sufficient Personal Protective Equipment" in hospitals.

The phased approach encourages all individuals to continue good hygiene practices like washing hands and to "strongly consider" using face coverings in public. And the document encourages employers to enact social distancing, temperature checks, testing and sanitation practices in their workplaces.

In the first phase of reopening, the document suggests schools that are currently closed should remain so and employees who are able to telework should keep working from home.

Large venues, including some restaurants, can operate under strict social distancing protocols. Gyms can open as long as they maintain social distancing guidelines, but bars should remain shuttered.

The guidelines still recommend minimizing nonessential travel, and indicate vulnerable populations should remain sheltered-in-place.

Phases two and three gradually decrease the recommended restrictions.

Trump unveiled the guidelines publicly at an early evening news conference.

"We are not opening all at once but one careful step at a time," Trump said, indicating each state could "tailor" its own reopening plan. "If they need to remain closed, we will allow them to do that."

In his call with governors, Trump previewed the plan but insisted it would be up to the individual governors to make the decision in their own states when they begin that process.

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