During a news conference Sunday, President Trump told Americans to "take it easy" and "just relax" when urging them to stop hoarding food and essential supplies.
"You don't have to buy so much," he said.
Trump tried to alleviate fears that food and other resources would become scarce by telling the public that he had spoken with leading grocery chain executives who assured that grocers would remain open and that the supply chain was uninhibited.
Vice President Mike Pence encouraged Americans to purchase only the food and supplies they would need for the week ahead.
Trump said that although the virus is "very contagious," his administration had "tremendous control" over the spread of the disease.
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