White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow claims coronavirus is ‘contained’

President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser is continuing to send mixed messages that the COVID-19 coronavirus is under control in the U.S. despite cases in the U.S. continuing to rise. 

As of Saturday afternoon there were more than 366 cases across 21 states resulting in 17 deaths. 

During an interview shown on CNBC, Kudlow said the virus has been ‘contained’ in the U.S.

He had made the exact same claim one week earlier despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning the virus could severely disrupt everyday life.

Larry Kudlow, right,  discussed the outbreak Friday on with host, David Faber, left, on CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street,’ with saying that Americans should remain calm

The mixed messages came as the stock market tumbled for a second straight week. 

Kudlow portrayed the stock market’s slide as a buying opportunity for investors. ‘Our economy is in good shape,’he  said. ‘This virus won’t last forever. We have contained it.’ 

‘We don’t actually know what the magnitude of the virus is going to be, although frankly, so far, it looks relatively contained,’ Kudlow told CNBC on Friday. ‘The vast majority of Americans are not at risk of this virus.’ 

Kudlow went on to say that ‘America should stay at work.’

‘I just don’t want to panic. I don’t want to panic on the economy, which looks sound. I don’t want to panic on the virus, which frankly, most Americans are not at risk. And I don’t want to panic on policy measures. Let’s try to be calm and not overreact,’ he said.

‘We don’t actually know what the magnitude of the virus is going to be, although frankly so far it looks relatively contained,’ Kudlow said

As of Saturday there were more than 366 cases across 21 states resulting in 17 deaths

‘I don’t want to downplay anything. Worry about the effect on human beings, for heaven’s sake. But I’m just saying, let’s not overreact. In many ways, America should stay at work,’ he said.  

‘I will still argue to you that this is contained. It can’t be airtight, but … in a relative sense, relative to our population, relative to ordinary flu’s … I think it is relatively contained,’ he continued.

Interviewer David Faber told Kudlow that coronavirus is ‘much more serious than the flu, as you know.’ 

Faber then told told Kudlow that ‘it’s very hard to say whether it really is in any way contained or whether we are not all at risk.’ 

‘Well, I’m not sure where you’re going on that,’ Kudlow responded.

‘For most people, if you’re healthy, you should go to work. Go about your business. That’s our advice,’ Kudlow said. 

‘In many ways, America should stay at work,’ Kudlow said during an interview on CNBC

U.S. health officials say there’s no mixed messaging — they have previously warned that they expect some spread around the country.

The message has become more urgent as they work to educate Americans about the risk, and about the steps that would happen if they are unable to contain the new virus by quarantining travelers coming to the U.S.

Now, they want people to start thinking about different kinds of measures they might see if the virus starts spreading, including closing schools and encouraging telework. Those steps were taken during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.

‘Part of preparedness is an educated population thinking about the future,’ said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

‘The immediate risk to the general American public remains low, but that has the potential to change quickly,’ he added.

The mixed messages came as the stock market tumbled for a second straight week (file photo)

‘We cannot hermetically seal off the United States to a virus and we need to be realistic about that,’ the health chief acknowledged. ‘We’ll have more cases in the United States, and we’ve been very transparent about that.’ If it happens, ‘we’ll work to mitigate those.’ 

The quickly spreading virus has slammed the economy of China, where the virus originated, and caseloads are rapidly increasing in countries such as South Korea, Iran and Italy. 

More than 102,000 people around the world have been infected, with more than 3,500 deaths, mostly in China.

More than 102,000 people around the world have been infected, with more than 3,500 deaths, mostly in China

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