As of Wednesday, over 1.36 million confirmed cases and 82,356 deaths have been reported in the U.S., according to the latest data by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Dr. Fauci warned ending lockdowns too quickly could bring severe consequences 

The U.S. government's top infectious disease expert warned Congress on Tuesday that ending the lockdowns too quickly could bring "really serious" consequences, including new outbreaks of coronavirus, just as the country tries to overcome the pandemic.

In his first appearance on Capitol Hill in two months, Anthony Fauci delivered a message of caution that was at odds with the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, who has pressed for rapid steps to rekindle the devastated economy.

The respected scientist told a Senate panel, federal authorities had developed guidelines on how to safely reopen activities, and a sustained 14-day decrease in cases was a vital first step.

"If a community or a state or region doesn't go by those guidelines and reopens ... the consequences could be really serious," said Fauci.

"There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control," he later added, warning that would not only cost lives, but could even set them back on the road to trying to get economic recovery.

In response to a question by Senator Bernie Sanders, Fauci acknowledged that U.S. coronavirus deaths are likely higher than the roughly 80,000 fatalities in the current official government toll.

This, he said, was because many people particularly in hardest-hit New York died at home before they could be admitted to a hospital.

Fauci, who has become the trusted face of the federal government's virus response, was one of the four top medical experts testifying remotely to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Pence to 'keep distance' from Trump: White House

On the White House, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, whose press secretary tested positive for coronavirus, has decided to "keep his distance" from President Donald Trump for a few days, the White House said Tuesday.

Katie Miller, Pence's press secretary, tested positive for the virus last week along with a personal valet to Trump.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Pence, who heads the White House coronavirus task force, "has made the choice to keep his distance for a few days" from the president.

"I would just note that that's his personal decision to make that," McEnany said. "As to how many days he does that, that's a decision for the vice president."

Trump said Monday that Pence has tested negative.

McEnany was also asked by a reporter during a briefing in the White House press room why she wasn't wearing a mask. She said she was sufficiently distant from the reporters in the room who were wearing masks themselves. "I had a negative test today and a negative test yesterday and I'm in an OK place," McEnany said.

Three high-profile members of the White House coronavirus task force are currently in self-imposed quarantine: infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Stephen Hahn, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Los Angeles mayor hedges on plan to extend coronavirus lockdown for three months

The mayor of Los Angeles on Tuesday clarified the assertion made by his health director that the stay-at-home orders in America's second-largest city would be extended at least through July, after those comments touched off a furor among beleaguered residents.

The remarks by Los Angeles County Health Director Barbara Ferrer, reported by the Los Angeles Times, came as other major U.S. cities and states begin to ease the sweeping restrictions imposed weeks ago in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I want to reassure people because I think there was a lot of panic suddenly when the headlines said we're all going to stay exactly as we are for three more months when that's not the case," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

"I think, quite simply, she's saying that we're not going to fully reopen Los Angeles and probably anywhere in America, without any protections or any health orders in the next three months. I think we know it's going to be even longer than three months," Garcetti said.

The U.S. state health statistics show that the number of daily COVID-19 fatalities and new cases have risen in Los Angeles County since March.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday that restaurants in parts of the state could begin allowing diners again under modified conditions and that outdoor shopping malls could open for curbside pickup.

Offices in parts of the state can also open with some restrictions, Newsom, a Democrat, said in his daily press briefing. But his latest plan for restarting still does not allow nail salons, tattoo parlors or gyms.

"It's a mistake to over-promise what reopening means," said Newsom, who has been more cautious than some governors in reopening his state.

（With input from Reuters )