US President Donald Trump unveiled a three-phase plan on Friday to reopen country's economy following the COVID-19 outbreak. The new plan allows governors to gradually ease the lockdown in their states.

Talking to media during his daily White House briefing on the coronavirus outbreak, Trump said that America wants to be open and that a national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution.

Asserting that a prolonged lockdown, combined with a forced economic depression, would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health, Trump said that his administration is issuing new federal guidelines that will allow governors to take a phased approach to reopening their individual states.

For the first phase, the guidelines recommends that states see a downward trajectory for 14 days in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases before they move to lift stay-at-home orders and other restrictions. The second phase includes asking for all vulnerable individuals to shelter in place, encourage telework, closure of common areas and physical distancing.

The third phase is essentially returning to the new normal with better hygiene practices, and respect for spaces between individuals.