Washington (CNN) Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday downplayed the likelihood of an economic recession as the economy takes a beating from the coronavirus outbreak.

When asked on ABC's "This Week" if the US was now in an economic recession as some have suggested, Munchin said, "I don't think so."

"The real issue is not the economic situation today. The real issue is what economic tools are we going to use to make sure we get through this, because this is a unique situation," he said. "Later in the year, obviously, the economic activity will pick up as we confront this virus."

Anxiety over coronavirus' spread across the US has shocked financial markets. The Trump administration has floated options on how to curb the financial impact of the virus and early Saturday morning the House passed a coronavirus relief bill to help small businesses and workers.

In the interview, Mnuchin also defended President Donald Trump's address to the nation Wednesday night despite its numerous inaccuracies, including the misleading presentation of restrictions on travel from Europe that was later clarified by the administration.

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