And the president in particular is distrusted by many Americans. Just 23% of Americans consider him a trustworthy source for information on the coronavirus outbreak, according to survey published last week by the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago. Fifty-two percent trust their state and local government leaders, by comparison.

Meatpacking Outbreaks
Several recent outbreaks have reinforced concerns about reopening too soon. Three of the largest pork processing plants in America -- Smithfield Foods Inc. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; JBS in Worthington, Minnesota; and Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. in Waterloo, Iowa -- have temporarily suspended operations after workers contracted the virus, CNN reported.

The closures have sparked concern about food shortages. Together, the three plants account for 15% of U.S. pork production, according to CNN. More than 150 of the country’s largest meat processing plants operate in counties that have high rates of coronavirus infections, according to an analysis by USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday issued new guidance for meatpacking plants to continue operations, urging workers to keep six feet of distance inside the facility “where possible” and staggering arrival and departure times.

A New Jersey mayor last week called for the closure of an Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment center in the town of Carteret after Business Insider reported 30 employees tested positive for Covid-19. Earlier this month, workers at a Tracy, California, Safeway Inc. distribution center called for better safety protocols after 51 workers there were infected and one died.

But reopening the country has become paramount for Trump, who had pinned his re-election on the strength of the U.S. economy.

‘Use Common Sense’
Trump balked at strict social distancing guidelines almost immediately after his administration recommended them in mid-March, saying he hoped the country could re-open for business by Easter. He later backed off that deadline, but his administration on April 16 issued new guidelines for a phased re-opening.

“Remember, the Cure can’t be worse than the problem itself. Be careful, be safe, use common sense!” Trump tweeted on Saturday.

White House officials are looking at limiting the liability of businesses in cases where workers, or possibly customers, fall ill from the virus, according to top economic adviser Larry Kudlow.

It’s not just Trump who is itching for people to get back to work. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state is the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, announced Sunday a phased reopening plan that could begin as soon as May 15.