US President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he heads to the Marine One helicopter to depart for a weekend at Camp David from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, US, May 1, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS)

Mr. Trump blamed China for what he says is “misinformation” when the virus emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan and then quickly spread around the world.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said raising tariffs on China is “certainly an option” as he considers ways to retaliate for the spread of coronavirus out of Wuhan, China.

The US lost more than 30 million jobs in the past 6 weeks of lockdown. US personal consumption expenditures plunged 7.5 percent in March month-on-month amid widespread shutdowns triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak, the US Commerce Department reported on Thursday.