President Donald Trump plans to keep the country open during a potential second wave of coronavirus, later this year.

Donald Trump Says U.S. Will Not Close During A COVID-19 Second WaveAlex Wong / Getty Images

Earlier this week, Trump was asked for his thoughts on a return of the virus after reopening the country.

“People say that’s a very distinct possibility. It’s standard,” Trump responded. “And we’re going to put out the fires. We’re not going to close the country. We’re going to put out the fires. Whether it’s an ember or a flame, we’re going to put it out. But we’re not closing our country.”

Various experts have warned that COVID-19 could make a strong return in the fall or winter, later this year, after dropping off during the summer.

“There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told the Washington Post. “And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean. We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.”

“I hope that if we do have the threat of a second wave, we will be able to deal with it very effectively, to prevent it from becoming an outbreak not only worse than now, but much, much less,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said of a potential second wave, earlier this month.

[Via]