Recap: White House Task Force Wednesday Coronavirus Briefing

President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force held a news briefing Wednesday afternoon to update the public and media on the latest information regarding the federal government's response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis in the United States.

Trump used part of his most recent White House Coronavirus Task Force to clarify that it will be safe to reopen the country when "we can say we have to be on the down slide of that slope."

"We can do it in phases, go to some areas where — you know, some areas are much less affected than others," he said to reporters in the White House briefing room. "But it would be nice to be able to open with a Big Bang and open up our country, or certainly most of our country."

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, used the press briefing to acknowledge that the coronavirus mitigation efforts were having a positive effect.

Fauci added, "Don't get complacent."

The Associated Press is reporting Wednesday afternoon the White House is considering loosening coronavirus guidelines for Americans who have been exposed to the virus but have no symptoms to return to work, particularly those in essential jobs.

The proposed guidelines come with almost 420,000 people confirmed with coronavirus cases and more than 14,000 deaths.