Donald Trump has said the “new normal” of shutdowns and social distancing could last until August or even beyond.

A day after telling Americans they should “relax” because the government was on top of the situation, the president was asked how the shutdowns, closures and social distancing being seen across the nation would last.

“If we do a really good job, we’ll not only hold the death down to a level that is much lower than the other way, had we not done a good job, but people are talking about July, August, something like that,” he said.

He added: “Could be longer that.”

Just 24 hours before, the president had urged Americans to relax and to avoid panic shopping saying the nation was “doing great”.

But as the markets continued to plunge, the president admitted the virus was not under control – “it’s not under control anywhere in the world”.

Urging people to avoid schools, sports and social gatherings of more than 10 people for the next two weeks, the president’s mood appeared markedly darker then during previous appearances before the cameras.

Mr Trump said as of Monday there were no plans for a nationwide quarantine or curfew.

He said the administration might be looking at certain hotspots, but there aren’t plans to do a nationwide quarantine or curfew.

Cressida Dick: Met Police not ruled out boosting numbers in London amid Coronavirus

“At this point, not nationwide, but there are some — you know, some places in our nation that are not very affected at all but we may — we may look at certain areas,” he said when asked.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said the new coronavirus guidelines from the White House may look like an overreaction, but said they were necessary.

“It will always seem that the best way to address it would be to be doing something that looks like it might be an overreaction. It isn’t an overreaction. It’s a reaction we feel is commensurate which is actually going on in reality,“ he said.

All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Show all 19 1 /19 All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party : Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation hold earthen pots containing cow urine before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation pour cow urine into cups before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi India. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink cow urine as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, hold earthen cups containing cow urine before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: A member and supporter of the Hindu organisation 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' drinks cow urine as a potential cure for the new coronavirus as he attends a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: A member and supporters of Hindu organisation 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' drinks cow urine as a potential cure for the new coronavirus as he attends a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party epa08293595 Hindu Mahasabha chief Chakrapani Maharaj(R) along with others drink cow urine during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party organised by Hindu Mahasabha which they claim neutralizes the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020. Reports state all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas stand suspended until 15 April 2020 and all incoming travelers including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days in view of 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India. Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Cups filled with cow urine are served during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party organized by Hindu Mahasabha which they claim neutralises the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020 Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party epa08293593 Hindu Mahasabha chief Chakrapani Maharaj(C) along with others drink cow urine during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party claims to neutralize the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 organised by Hindu Mahasabha in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020. Reports state all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas stand suspended until 15 April 2020 and all incoming travelers including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days in view of 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India. Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party An Indian Hindu woman drinks cow urine during an event organized by a Hindu religious group to promote consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover Altaf Qadri/AP All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Earthen cups filled with cow urine are placed on a table during an event organized by a Hindu religious group to promote consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, 14 March 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. Altaf Qadri/AP All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party A member of All India Hindu Mahasabha holds an idol of a cow after drinking cow urine during a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha serve a traditional drink with cow urine as an ingredient during a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party A policeman stands guard next to a caricature as members of All India Hindu Mahasabha attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha offer cow urine to a caricature of the coronavirus as they attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Mr Trump also said it was possible the US could enter a recession.

“Well, it may be,” he said. “We’re not thinking in terms of recession.”