Trump hopeful Americans will be working by Easter

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is hoping the United States will be reopened by Easter as he weighs how to relax nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job during the new coronavirus outbreak.

With lives and the economy hanging in the balance, and with many health officials calling for stricter - not looser - restrictions on public interactions, Trump said he was already looking toward easing the advisories that have sidelined workers, shuttered schools and led to a widespread economic slowdown.

"But rest assured, every decision we make is grounded solely in the health, safety and well-being of our citizens," he said during a White House briefing.

Meanwhile, Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator for the White House task force, said Tuesday that she anticipates the number of confirmed cases in the United States to continue to increase as more people are being tested for the virus.

Health experts have made clear that unless Americans continue to dramatically limit social interaction - staying home from work and isolating themselves - the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system, as it has in parts of Italy, leading to many more deaths.

While the worst outbreaks are concentrated in certain parts of the country, such as New York, experts warn that the highly infectious disease is certain to spread.