The White House sought to quell growing anxiety on Monday as financial markets wobbled and cases of COVID-19 continued to surge around the country.

Vice President Mike Pence , who was tapped last month to lead the countrys response to the coronavirus outbreak, touted the leadership of President Donald Trump while saying officials were still unclear how many people had actually been tested for the virus.

The men and women standing behind me and all the men and women standing behind them have done a remarkable job responding to this, Pence said during a news briefing. I really do believe that the American people can see that this president is putting the health of the American people first.

The assurances came amid skyrocketing anxiety both at home and abroad. Officials were preparing to quarantine thousands of people stranded aboard a second cruise ship linked to the outbreak that docked in Oakland, California. Schools in multiple states have shut down , others have said they may soon do the same, and some universities have announced classes will be moved online for the foreseeable future. Two Republican lawmakers who interacted with the president in recent days also said they would self-quarantine for two weeks after coming into contact with a carrier of the disease.

The Trump administration said Monday there were now more than 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 35 states and the District of Columbia, but said the risk to the American public remained low. Officials stressed that populations most at risk included people over the age of 60 and those with underlying health issues, in line with previous guidance .