WH COVID-19 guidelines to fade out as states reopen economies: Trump  

US President Donald Trump said the White House coronavirus guidelines will be "fading out" as more states begin to reopen their economies despite concerns ove the ongoing pandemic.

"They'll be fading out, because now the governors are doing it," Trump said during a White House meeting with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Wednesday.

Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines were being incorporated by governors into their plans to reopen, and indicated they will phase out over time, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Every state in America has embraced those guidelines at a minimum, or even done more, and now our focus is working with states," Pence said.

"The current guidelines I think you can say are very much incorporated in the guidance that we're giving states to open up America again."

The guidelines, including measures such as physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings and working from home, are set to expire Thursday.

Trump announced the guidelines on April 16 that recommend a three-phase approach for states and counties to reopen their economies by May 1.

The US currently accounts for the highest number of coronavirus cases, as well as deaths.

As of Thursday morning, there were 1,039,909 cases, with 60,966 deaths, according to the latest tally by the Johns Hopkins University.-IANS