"China sent us some stuff, which was terrific. Russia sent us a very very large planeload of things, medical equipment, which was very nice," U.S. President Trump told reporters during the daily coronavirus response briefing on Monday.

"Other countries sent us things that I was very surprised at, very happily surprised," he told reporters.

The president also noted that he believes the next 30 days are important for flattening the curve to stop the spread of the coronavirus as more than 160,000 people in the United States have contracted the fast-spreading respiratory virus that causes COVID-19. 

"And this is a very vital 30 days, we're sort of putting it all on the line, these 30 days, so important, because we have to get back," said Trump.

On Monday, the president extended social distancing guidelines by another 30 days, to April 30.

"Every one of us has a role to play in winning this war. Every citizen, family, and business can make the difference in stopping the virus. This is our shared patriotic duty. Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days and this is a very vital 30 days," Trump said, noting that more than a million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus.

Trump said the United States had begun to acquire personal protective equipment from overseas. 

"We're getting it from all over the world, and we're also sending things that we don't need to other parts," he said, noting that the United States will send medical equipment for combating the coronavirus pandemic to Italy, France and Spain.

The president also lauded an announcement from Ford Motor Co and General Electric's healthcare unit that they would be producing 50,000 ventilators in 100 days.

He also noted that General Motors and other US-based companies would be making ventilators as well. "As we outpace what we need, we're going to be sending them to Italy, we're going to be sending them to France, we're going to be spending them to Spain ... and other countries as we can."

The president said federal social distancing guidelines might be toughened and travel restrictions with China and Europe would stay in place as he urged Americans to help fight the coronavirus with tough measures through April.

"The guidelines will be very much as they are, maybe even toughened up a little bit," he told reporters.

Trump said his administration would take a look at a suggestion from former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb that all Americans wear a mask when out in public to help halt the spread of the virus.

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Meanwhile, Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, discussed boosting payments to low- and middle-income workers who are likely to be among the most vulnerable as companies lay off and furlough millions of workers, as well as eliminating out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus medical treatment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would work with Republicans to craft a bill that could also provide added protections for frontline workers and substantially more support for state and local governments to deal with one of the largest public health crises in U.S. history.

Pelosi, the top U.S. Democrat, said she did not expect new legislation to be completed until sometime after Easter, which is on April 12.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration signaled that it might seek congressional authorization for more funds for a small-business loan program.

Congress is trying to respond to the crisis even as its normal operations are interrupted, with most lawmakers advised to stay in their home states. The Senate is in recess until April 20 and the House at least until then.

(With input from Reuters)