WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has given governors a road map for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out a phased approach to restoring normal activity.

The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations.

They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned.

Federal officials warn that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak.

Seven Midwestern governors announced, Thursday, that they will coordinate on reopening their state economies, after similar pacts were made earlier this week in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

That announcement covers Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Kentucky. The governors say they will work with experts and take a “fact-based, data-driven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protects families from the spread of COVID-19.”

During his daily coronavirus update, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb said he was looking at “early May” for a gradual reopening of the Indiana economy. Holcomb said he was not targeting an exact date. Holcomb also said the ‘re-opening” would take place in stages, rather than all at once.

All together, the 17 states covered by the three pacts are home to nearly half of the country’s population.