US coronavirus news: Trump says economy 'may be' heading for recession as White House issues new Covid-19 guidelines

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President Trump says: "We're doing really, really well" at Coronavirus press conference

Donald Trump said the coronavirus outbreak could trigger a recession on Monday, as states across the country prepared to enter into lockdown with shops and venues closing nationwide.

The president said the US "may" see a recession as a result of the outbreak, but added that "the market will take care of itself" during a press conference at the White House.

The Dow Jones plummeted 3,000 points on Monday, reflecting the market's worst one-day point drop in history. Monday's drop came just one day after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to near-zero, a dramatic move that appeared to do little to restore confidence in the market, while cities and states across the US announced sweeping closures to avoid spreading the virus.

Meanwhile, San Francisco's mayor ordered the city's residents to "shelter at home" for three weeks in one of the most stringent responses yet to the coronavirus by a major US city.

The death toll rose to at least 69 and the number of cases in the US rose to more than 3,500, with experts suggesting those numbers are actually far higher due to the lack of nationwide testing.

The White House has meanwhile been forced to deny rumours of a national quarantine and nightly curfews, as reports indicated the US Health and Human Services Department suffered an attempted cyber attack amid its response to the pandemic.

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Key Points

• White House forced to deny national coronavirus quarantine rumours
• US cities on lockdown as CDC recommends gatherings of no more than 50
• Trump 'attempted to acquire US monopoly over possible vaccine'
• New York Stock Exchange halts all trading as market plunges
• Biden and Sanders attack president over coronavirus response in eerie debate

[16 March 2020 21:01 · Richard Hall]

San Francisco orders resident to stay home for three weeks

Residents of San Francisco have been ordered to "shelter at home" for three weeks in one of the most stringent responses yet to the coronavirus by a major US city. 

The public health order prohibits residents from leaving their homes except to visit doctors and buy groceries and medicine until 7 April, Mayor London Breed announced on Monday.

"This is going to be a defining moment for our city ... We all have a responsibility to do our part to protect our neighbors and slow the spread of this virus by staying at home unless it is absolutely essential to go outside," she said.

More to follow...

[16 March 2020 21:28 · Richard Hall]

Donald Trump says coronavirus outbreak could last for months, and may cause recession 

The Independent's John T. Bennett wraps up Donald Trump's press conference earlier, during which the president spoke candidly about the impact of the coronavirus on the US economy. 

After years of linking his reelection chances to the success of American stock indexes, Mr Trump indicated he intends to take a hands-off role in reversing the recent slide.

"The market will take care of itself," he said. "The best thing I can do for the stock market is we can get through this crisis."