Kellyanne Conway predicts ‘devastation’ from virus after initially calling it ‘contained’

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway on Wednesday suggested that she was taking the novel coronavirus seriously after initially saying that it was "contained."

In an interview on Fox News, Conway encouraged viewers to follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on limiting public gatherings during the pandemic.

"These are unprecedented times with this virus," she insisted. "And it calls for unprecedented action. But we also know about the resilience and the strength and the fortitude of the American people."

"We can all do our best to mitigate the health consequences of this unprecedented virus," Conway said. "But our government is working together and with the private sector to help mitigate the economic devastation as well."

She added: "We just want Americans to know that we're in this together, that we can all do our part to mitigate the damage as well... We want Americans to replace panic with over-preparedness... Nobody should be upset if they're over-prepared or they overreact to this."

But just days earlier, Conway had downplayed the virus.

“It is being contained,” Conway told a reporter earlier this month. “Do you not think it’s being contained?”

Watch the video below from Fox News.