President Trump on Thursday released a road map to governors that would reopen their devastated economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, a gradual three-phased process that will be different across the country, he said.

“Opening up America again,” Trump said at a White House press briefing. “That’s what we’re doing. We’re opening up our country, and we have to do that. America wants to be open, and Americans want to be open.”

The Trump administration issued new federal guidelines for governors to take a three-phased approach to reopening businesses and schools. To start the process of loosening restrictions, the state must have declining coronavirus infections for 14 days along with a robust testing program, according to the guidelines.

“As the case load in a state continues to go down, restrictions can continue to be eased and come off,” Trump said.

At least 22 million Americans have lost work in the last month.

“A national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution,” Trump said. “To preserve the health of our citizens, we must also preserve the health and functioning of our economy.”

Governors have the ultimate authority to decide when to reopen their economies. Trump had said earlier this week he had the ultimate authority to reopen states.

Trump said experts tell him the curve has flattened, but Massachusetts is in the middle of its surge.

“Every state is very different,” Trump said.

“Look, I don’t want anyone coming back that isn’t in position to come back,” he said about different states.

The guidelines can be implemented statewide or county-by-county, White House officials said.

Those most vulnerable to the disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.

“Instead of a blanket shutdown, we will pursue a focus on sheltering the highest-risk individuals,” Trump said.

For phase one of the guidelines, people in public should continue to maximize social distance. People should not have gatherings of more than 10 people, and they should minimize non-essential travel. Employers should encourage telework, and have employees return to work in phases. Schools should remain closed. Restaurants could operate under strict physical distancing protocols.

The next phase also urges maximizing social distancing. People should not have gatherings of more than 50 people. Non-essential travel can resume. Employers should continue encouraging telework. Schools can reopen, and restaurants can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.

The third phase would focus on identifying and isolating new infections. Low-risk populations should minimize time spent in crowded environments. Employers can resume unrestricted staffing of offices.

Trump said, “This strategy is based on hard, verifiable data.”

Herald wire services were used in this report.