It's fairly easy to answer the reporter's question. Maybe something like:
"I understand that many of you are scared, whether it's from a health or economic perspective, but we are Americans, and we have the capacity to overcome any obstacle that comes in our path. As a nation, we must work together, even as we keep our distance. It may be a difficult road ahead, but the American spirit will overcome."
That was off the cuff. It didn't take a lot of deep thought to come up with some platitudes which would answer the question and not misrepresent the situation. And it was done without attacking the reporter for asking a pretty basic question.