Trump urges Americans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more, skip eating out

President Donald Trump implored the nation Monday to avoid social gatherings with 10 or more people and to skip restaurants, bars and nursing homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

His new guidelines for the next 15 days released at a White House press conference are among the most stringent to date, a sign of how far the administration is going to try to slow infections.

"Each and every one of us has a critical role to play in stopping the spread and transmission of the virus," Trump said.

The president also cautioned that the outbreak in America could extended into July or August. His words came as members of Congress considered delaying their return from spring break and to change the way they vote on the House floor to stem the spread of the virus.

When asked if the economy is heading toward a recession, the president indicated that "it may be," but added that it will rebound when the coronavirus subsides.

“Well, it may be. We’re not thinking in terms of the virus,” the president said. “I think there’s a tremendous pent up demand, both in terms of the stock market and in terms of the economy. And once this goes away, once it goes through and we’re done with it I think you’re gonna see a tremendous, a tremendous surge.”

Asked when a potential recession could occur, the president responded: “I don’t, number one, determine recession. I just say this, we have an invisible enemy. We have a problem that a month ago nobody ever thought about.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged nearly 3,000 points on Monday, its largest point drop in history.

In Ohio, meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine made plans to postpone the state's primary on Tuesday until June as a way of protecting voters.