The United States on Thursday accused the World Health Organisation of putting politics first by ignoring early coronavirus warnings by Taiwan, which voiced outrage over criticism from the UN body's chief.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-hardest-hit-by-novel-coronavirus-291635" hreflang="en">US hardest hit by novel coronavirus</a>

President Donald Trump has gone on an offensive with threats to withhold funding for the WHO, which is at the forefront of fighting the pandemic that has infected more than 1.5 million people worldwide since emerging in Wuhan, China late last year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wobbles-as-new-york-becomes-coronavirus-epicentre-291628" hreflang="en">Trump wobbles as New York becomes coronavirus epicentre</a>

Critics say that Trump's sudden threats against the WHO amount to a political ploy to find a foreign scapegoat as he comes under fire for not doing more to prepare for and control COVID-19, which has killed about 15,000 people in the United States.

Trump himself said in January that the United States had the coronavirus "totally under control" and predicted it may go away in April as temperatures rise.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-new-york-reports-new-one-day-record-death-toll-as-governor-cuomo-says-hospitalizations-have-fallen-291631" hreflang="en">COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen</a>

Elaborating on Trump's case against the WHO, the State Department said the WHO was too late in sounding the alarm over COVID-19 and overly deferential to China. It questioned why the Geneva-based body did not pursue a lead from Taiwan.

The United States is "deeply disturbed that Taiwan's information was withheld from the global health community, as reflected in the WHO's January 14, 2020 statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission," a State Department spokesperson said.

The WHO's actions have "cost time and lives," the spokesperson said.

Taiwan, which has succeeded in limiting the virus to just five deaths despite the island's proximity and ties with China, warned the WHO on December 31 of human-to-human transmission, Vice President Chen Chien-Jen has said.

Chen, an epidemiologist, told the Financial Times that Taiwanese doctors had learned that colleagues in Wuhan were falling ill but that the WHO did not work to confirm the finding.

China considers Taiwan -- a self-ruling democracy where the mainland's defeated nationalists fled in 1949 -- to be a province awaiting reunification and has sought to exclude it from all international organizations.

"The WHO once again chose politics over public health," she said, criticizing the WHO for denying Taiwan even observer status since 2016.

The United States on Thursday accused the World Health Organisation of putting politics first by ignoring early coronavirus warnings by Taiwan, which voiced outrage over criticism from the UN body's chief.

The United States on Thursday accused the World Health Organisation of putting politics first by ignoring early coronavirus warnings by Taiwan, which voiced outrage over criticism from the UN body's chief. Also read: US hardest hit by novel coronavirus President Donald Trump has gone on an offensive with threats to withhold funding for the WHO, which is at the forefront of fighting the pandemic that has infected more than 1.5 million people worldwide since emerging in Wuhan, China late last year. Also read: Trump wobbles as New York becomes coronavirus epicentre Critics say that Trump's sudden threats against the WHO amount to a political ploy to find a foreign scapegoat as he comes under fire for not doing more to prepare for and control COVID-19, which has killed about 15,000 people in the United States. Trump himself said in January that the United States had the coronavirus "totally under control" and predicted it may go away in April as temperatures rise. Also read: COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen Elaborating on Trump's case against the WHO, the State Department said the WHO was too late in sounding the alarm over COVID-19 and overly deferential to China. It questioned why the Geneva-based body did not pursue a lead from Taiwan. The United States is "deeply disturbed that Taiwan's information was withheld from the global health community, as reflected in the WHO's January 14, 2020 statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission," a State Department spokesperson said. The WHO's actions have "cost time and lives," the spokesperson said. Taiwan, which has succeeded in limiting the virus to just five deaths despite the island's proximity and ties with China, warned the WHO on December 31 of human-to-human transmission, Vice President Chen Chien-Jen has said. Chen, an epidemiologist, told the Financial Times that Taiwanese doctors had learned that colleagues in Wuhan were falling ill but that the WHO did not work to confirm the finding. China considers Taiwan -- a self-ruling democracy where the mainland's defeated nationalists fled in 1949 -- to be a province awaiting reunification and has sought to exclude it from all international organizations. "The WHO once again chose politics over public health," she said, criticizing the WHO for denying Taiwan even observer status since 2016.

US criticises WHO for ignoring Taiwan's warnings about COVID-19

The New York records deadliest day of pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with 799 new deaths. The United States of America is grappling through the toughest week of pandemic COVID-19.

US: New York records deadliest day of pandemic COVID-19 with 799 new deaths

A few weeks ago, A Chinese diplomat had floated the theory that the coronavirus originated in the US. Now, China has disowned this claim. Meanwhile, in the US, President Donald Trump has stopped calling the Coronavirus 'Chinese virus'. Has China struck a deal with the US? WION's Palki Sharma assesses.

Gravitas: Chinese official disowns U.S. military lab coronavirus conspiracy

Donald Trump is blaming the WHO for the evolving crisis in the United States. While the health body needs to be held accountable, is the U.S. President trying to evade responsibility for his faults? WION's Palki Sharma brings you the story.

Gravitas: Trump takes on the WHO | Wuhan Coronavirus

A record single-day death toll of 779 taking the total count to 6000 and counting. Nearly 1,50,000 active cases. This is the tally for New York alone. The United States' most populous city.

A record single-day death toll of 779 taking the total count to 6000 and counting. Nearly 1,50,000 active cases. This is the tally for New York alone. The United States' most populous city. Also read: Coronavirus replaced by racism, xenophobia and hate against foreigners in China The world's financial capital and now global coronavirus epicentre. New york's COVID-19 numbers have surpassed that of Spain's. Also read: COVID-19: New York reports new one-day record death toll as governor Cuomo says hospitalizations have fallen To make the matters worse, authorities have flagged the possibility of under-counting. The situation is a grim reminder of 9/11. New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo said: "I mean, I went through a 9/11 I thought in my lifetime, I wouldn't have to see anything like that again." The city's hospitals are inundated. Patients are now being treated at churches. There has been a fall in the hospitalisation, experts say that the curve may also be flattening but authorities are wary of striking a note too optimistic. "Be careful of counting our chickens before they hatch. We haven't seen cases yet. We are in the midst of this. Don't start doing a retrospective like it's over because that's the attitude we have to avoid," added Cuomo. New Yorkers know its not over, in fact, far from it. Alix Monteleone, a 28-year-old, experiential account supervisor, said: "This is very real. And we're seeing so much chaos manifest outside of our home that we can't imagine how bad it is inside. You know, we stopped counting how many bodies came out." The number of cases in the United States has crossed 4,35,000 and the death toll is nearing 15,000. The US has been the hardest hit by the pandemic. President Donald Trump's weapon of choice is denial. He says social distancing is working, Trump said: "What we've accomplished, if every American continues to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines, we can defeat the invisible enemy and save countless lives that we can do it much more quickly." The reality is thousands of Americans are flouting social distancing norms and the reality is a shortage of test kits, so much so that, frontline workers are being denied tests. That is, unless, they show severe symptoms Fixating over hydroxychloroquine. The reality is also apathy at the highest level. According to the US Media, the White House was warned about a possible pandemic as early as November 2019. The president sat on this putting millions of lives at risk and months later. President Donald Trump said: "So you're talking about 2.2 million deaths, 2.2 million people from this. And so if we could hold that down, as we're saying, to 100,000, it's a horrible number, maybe even less, but to 100,000. So we have between 100 and 200,000. We altogether have done a very good job." The good news is that the latest estimates show fewer projected deaths in the country. Americans are cheering each other up in tough times like these, empathy and solidarity is helping them cope with the crisis.

Trump wobbles as New York becomes coronavirus epicentre

US President Donald Trump has fired a fresh salvo at the World Health Organization, accusing its chief of siding with China and "politicising" the coronavirus pandemic while repeating his threat to freeze the UN agency's funding.

Trump's allegation comes a day after the US President threatened to put a "very powerful" hold on US' funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) and criticised it for having "missed the call" in its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-defends-who-after-trump-coronavirus-jibe-291459" hreflang="en">UN chief defends WHO after Trump coronavirus jibe</a>

Trump slammed the Geneva-based global health agency for its early guidance aimed at countering the international spread of the coronavirus.

The president's fresh allegation comes after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned against politicisation of COVID-19 and said that such a move will only result in "many more body bags".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-4-lakh-infected-with-coronavirus-in-us-report-291455" hreflang="en">Over 4 lakh infected with coronavirus in US: Report</a>

"If you want to be exploited and if you want to have many more body bags, then you [politicize the virus]. If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it," Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Hours later at the White House conference, Trump agreed that the COVID-19 should not be politicised, but alleged that the WHO chief was doing exactly that and was siding with China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organisation-urges-coronavirus-unity-after-trump-attack-291437" hreflang="en">World Health Organisation urges coronavirus unity after Trump attack</a>

"When he (Ghebreyesus) says politicizing, he's politicizing. That shouldn't be. We spend USD 450 million last year, hundreds of millions in previous years. And they got to do better than that. They got to do better. When you talk about politics, I can't believe he's talking about politics look at the relationship they have to China," Trump said in response to a question.

"China spends USD 42 million. We spend USD 450 million and everything seems to be China's way. That's not right. It's not fair to us. And honestly, it's not fair to the world," he said.

The United States is reevaluating its funding with respect to the WHO, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at the White House.

"This is very consistent with what President Trump said since the beginning of his campaign. Organizations have to work," he added.

"They have to deliver the outcomes for which they were intended and we need to make sure that only the WHO but every international organization that we take taxpayer money and give it to them for the benefit of America we need to make sure it is delivering on this taxpayer dollars. The WHO is no different in that respect," the top American diplomat said.

Trump asserted that the WHO had to get its priority right. "I think they have to get their priorities right and their priorities are that everybody has to be treated properly, every country. And it doesn't seem that way,&nbsp;he said.

"It doesn't seem that way so we are going to do study investigation and we are going to make a determination as to what we are doing. In the meantime, we are holding back, we are going very unfair to the United States USD 452 million compared to USD 42 million that is to the World Health Organization. That is not good, that is not good, not fair," he said.

"Not fair at all and other countries as you know also gave very substantially less than the United States and the world WHO got it wrong. I mean they got it very wrong, in many ways they were wrong. They also minimised the threat very strongly and not good," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump has fired a fresh salvo at the World Health Organization, accusing its chief of siding with China and "politicising" the coronavirus pandemic while repeating his threat to freeze the UN agency's funding.

US President Donald Trump has fired a fresh salvo at the World Health Organization, accusing its chief of siding with China and "politicising" the coronavirus pandemic while repeating his threat to freeze the UN agency's funding. Trump's allegation comes a day after the US President threatened to put a "very powerful" hold on US' funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) and criticised it for having "missed the call" in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: UN chief defends WHO after Trump coronavirus jibe Trump slammed the Geneva-based global health agency for its early guidance aimed at countering the international spread of the coronavirus. The president's fresh allegation comes after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned against politicisation of COVID-19 and said that such a move will only result in "many more body bags". Also read: Over 4 lakh infected with coronavirus in US: Report "If you want to be exploited and if you want to have many more body bags, then you [politicize the virus]. If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it," Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday. Hours later at the White House conference, Trump agreed that the COVID-19 should not be politicised, but alleged that the WHO chief was doing exactly that and was siding with China. Also read: World Health Organisation urges coronavirus unity after Trump attack "When he (Ghebreyesus) says politicizing, he's politicizing. That shouldn't be. We spend USD 450 million last year, hundreds of millions in previous years. And they got to do better than that. They got to do better. When you talk about politics, I can't believe he's talking about politics look at the relationship they have to China," Trump said in response to a question. "China spends USD 42 million. We spend USD 450 million and everything seems to be China's way. That's not right. It's not fair to us. And honestly, it's not fair to the world," he said. The United States is reevaluating its funding with respect to the WHO, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at the White House. "This is very consistent with what President Trump said since the beginning of his campaign. Organizations have to work," he added. "They have to deliver the outcomes for which they were intended and we need to make sure that only the WHO but every international organization that we take taxpayer money and give it to them for the benefit of America we need to make sure it is delivering on this taxpayer dollars. The WHO is no different in that respect," the top American diplomat said. Trump asserted that the WHO had to get its priority right. "I think they have to get their priorities right and their priorities are that everybody has to be treated properly, every country. And it doesn't seem that way, he said. "It doesn't seem that way so we are going to do study investigation and we are going to make a determination as to what we are doing. In the meantime, we are holding back, we are going very unfair to the United States USD 452 million compared to USD 42 million that is to the World Health Organization. That is not good, that is not good, not fair," he said. "Not fair at all and other countries as you know also gave very substantially less than the United States and the world WHO got it wrong. I mean they got it very wrong, in many ways they were wrong. They also minimised the threat very strongly and not good," Trump said.

WHO chief 'politicising' COVID-19 pandemic, siding with China: Trump

US President Donald Trump has zeroed in on the World Health Organization (WHO) as a new target for blame as the coronavirus pandemic grips the United States.

WHO reacts to Trump's 'China-Centric' jibe

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday pleaded for global unity in fighting the coronavirus, following US President Donald Trump's stinging attack on its handling of the pandemic.

As the&nbsp;WHO&nbsp;prepares to mark 100 days on Thursday since it was first notified of the outbreak in China, director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hit back at accusations that it had been too close to Beijing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-stricken-antarctica-cruise-ship-to-dock-in-montevideo-291433" hreflang="en">Coronavirus-stricken Antarctica cruise ship to dock in Montevideo</a>

The UN's health agency has faced criticism in the past both for overreacting and for moving too slowly in fighting epidemics, but it has rarely faced as much scrutiny as with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump piled in on Tuesday, accusing the&nbsp;WHO&nbsp;having "called it wrong" and months too late, while taking US money but favouring China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-deaths-soar-in-us-europe-as-trump-sees-light-at-end-of-tunnel-291427" hreflang="en">Coronavirus deaths soar in US, Europe as Trump sees light at end of tunnel</a>

The new coronavirus, which first appeared in China in December, has gone on to kill more than 80,000 people, while more than 1.4 million people have tested positive.

However, French President Emmanuel Macron later "reiterated his belief that the&nbsp;WHO&nbsp;must be part of the solution" during a conversation with Tedros, according to a presidential official.&nbsp;

"He refuses to see (the&nbsp;WHO) locked in this war between China and the United States," the official said of Macron.

Tedros urged the United States to join with China in combating the disease rather than indulging in a blame game, as he issued a stern defence of the&nbsp;WHO's management of the pandemic.

"The&nbsp;WHO&nbsp;really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look," Trump said on Twitter.

"Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?"

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday pleaded for global unity in fighting the coronavirus, following US President Donald Trump's stinging attack on its handling of the pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday pleaded for global unity in fighting the coronavirus, following US President Donald Trump's stinging attack on its handling of the pandemic. As the WHO prepares to mark 100 days on Thursday since it was first notified of the outbreak in China, director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hit back at accusations that it had been too close to Beijing. Also read: Coronavirus-stricken Antarctica cruise ship to dock in Montevideo The UN's health agency has faced criticism in the past both for overreacting and for moving too slowly in fighting epidemics, but it has rarely faced as much scrutiny as with the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump piled in on Tuesday, accusing the WHO having "called it wrong" and months too late, while taking US money but favouring China. Also read: Coronavirus deaths soar in US, Europe as Trump sees light at end of tunnel The new coronavirus, which first appeared in China in December, has gone on to kill more than 80,000 people, while more than 1.4 million people have tested positive. However, French President Emmanuel Macron later "reiterated his belief that the WHO must be part of the solution" during a conversation with Tedros, according to a presidential official. "He refuses to see (the WHO) locked in this war between China and the United States," the official said of Macron. Tedros urged the United States to join with China in combating the disease rather than indulging in a blame game, as he issued a stern defence of the WHO's management of the pandemic. "The WHO really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look," Trump said on Twitter. "Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?"

World Health Organisation urges coronavirus unity after Trump attack

The US authorised pharmacies on Wednesday to carry out tests for the coronavirus, including newly developed antibody tests that detect whether a person who has recovered from illness had COVID-19.

Health secretary Alex Azar, announced that all tests approved by regulators could be carried out by pharmacies as the country seeks to ramp up its testing efforts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-super-spreaders-in-us-a-funeral-a-birthday-party-and-a-trail-of-death-291428" hreflang="en">Coronavirus super spreaders in US: A funeral, a birthday party and a trail of death</a>

"The Trump Administration is pleased to give pharmacists the chance to play a bigger role in the COVID-19 response, alongside all of America's heroic healthcare workers," he said.

A nasal swab test can detect whether a person currently has the coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-deaths-soar-in-us-europe-as-trump-sees-light-at-end-of-tunnel-291427" hreflang="en">Coronavirus deaths soar in US, Europe as Trump sees light at end of tunnel</a>

After they have recovered, a test that looks at whether their body developed antibodies that fought off the virus and can be used -- even if the person never showed symptoms.

There are different kinds of antibody tests and they can't yet tell whether a person has sufficient antibodies to be protected against future infection.&nbsp;

A Chinese study posted this week, but not yet peer reviewed, showed that some former patients had relatively low levels of antibodies in the blood.

In Washington on Wednesday, a private medical center announced that it was offering a 15-minute serology test, at a cost of $290.

The US authorised pharmacies on Wednesday to carry out tests for the coronavirus, including newly developed antibody tests that detect whether a person who has recovered from illness had COVID-19.

The US authorised pharmacies on Wednesday to carry out tests for the coronavirus, including newly developed antibody tests that detect whether a person who has recovered from illness had COVID-19. Health secretary Alex Azar, announced that all tests approved by regulators could be carried out by pharmacies as the country seeks to ramp up its testing efforts. Also read: Coronavirus super spreaders in US: A funeral, a birthday party and a trail of death "The Trump Administration is pleased to give pharmacists the chance to play a bigger role in the COVID-19 response, alongside all of America's heroic healthcare workers," he said. A nasal swab test can detect whether a person currently has the coronavirus. Also read: Coronavirus deaths soar in US, Europe as Trump sees light at end of tunnel After they have recovered, a test that looks at whether their body developed antibodies that fought off the virus and can be used -- even if the person never showed symptoms. There are different kinds of antibody tests and they can't yet tell whether a person has sufficient antibodies to be protected against future infection. A Chinese study posted this week, but not yet peer reviewed, showed that some former patients had relatively low levels of antibodies in the blood. In Washington on Wednesday, a private medical center announced that it was offering a 15-minute serology test, at a cost of $290.

US pharmacies authorised to test for coronavirus

The United States saw nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths for a second day running as the toll soared again in Europe, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Governments are grappling with how to balance public safety against the devastating economic impact of stay-at-home orders that have erased millions of jobs in a matter of weeks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-records-new-death-toll-peak-as-governor-cuomo-says-curve-flattening-291411" hreflang="en">New York records new death toll peak as Governor Cuomo says 'curve flattening'</a>

More than 86,000 people worldwide have died in the virus crisis, which has sent the global economy spiralling and forced billions of people to remain at home as much as possible.

In France, one of the hardest-hit nations in Europe with more than 10,000 deaths, President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation next week to explain the path forward.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-coronavirus-outbreak-chinese-companies-eye-european-businesses-291401" hreflang="en">After coronavirus outbreak, Chinese companies eye European businesses</a>

The confinement order issued on March 17 "will be extended" beyond the current deadline of April 15, an official close to Macron told AFP.

The United States reported the highest one-day toll on record, with 1,973 deaths over a 24-hour period -- reaching nearly 2,000 for the second day in a row.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bernie-sanders-drops-out-of-us-presidential-race-biden-to-take-on-trump-in-2020-polls-291394" hreflang="en">Bernie Sanders drops out of US presidential race, Biden to take on Trump in 2020 polls</a>

Italy and Spain are still recording hundreds of deaths a day, and the situation is also deteriorating in Britain, which saw a record 938 fatalities Wednesday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a third day in intensive care.&nbsp;

The 55-year-old leader's condition is "improving" and he is in "good spirits", officials assured the public.&nbsp;

In New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, the state's governor noted the new single-day high for virus deaths at 779, but offered an optimistic view for the weeks to come.

"We are flattening the curve," Andrew Cuomo told reporters, as he cited a decreasing hospitalization rate due to stay-at-home orders.

That optimism was shared by US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both said the data seemed to indicate a turn for the better.

"We are hopefully heading towards a final stretch, the light at the end of the tunnel," Trump told reporters.

The United States saw nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths for a second day running as the toll soared again in Europe, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The United States saw nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths for a second day running as the toll soared again in Europe, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Governments are grappling with how to balance public safety against the devastating economic impact of stay-at-home orders that have erased millions of jobs in a matter of weeks. Also read: New York records new death toll peak as Governor Cuomo says 'curve flattening' More than 86,000 people worldwide have died in the virus crisis, which has sent the global economy spiralling and forced billions of people to remain at home as much as possible. In France, one of the hardest-hit nations in Europe with more than 10,000 deaths, President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation next week to explain the path forward. Also read: After coronavirus outbreak, Chinese companies eye European businesses The confinement order issued on March 17 "will be extended" beyond the current deadline of April 15, an official close to Macron told AFP. The United States reported the highest one-day toll on record, with 1,973 deaths over a 24-hour period -- reaching nearly 2,000 for the second day in a row. Also read: Bernie Sanders drops out of US presidential race, Biden to take on Trump in 2020 polls Italy and Spain are still recording hundreds of deaths a day, and the situation is also deteriorating in Britain, which saw a record 938 fatalities Wednesday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a third day in intensive care. The 55-year-old leader's condition is "improving" and he is in "good spirits", officials assured the public. In New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, the state's governor noted the new single-day high for virus deaths at 779, but offered an optimistic view for the weeks to come. "We are flattening the curve," Andrew Cuomo told reporters, as he cited a decreasing hospitalization rate due to stay-at-home orders. That optimism was shared by US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both said the data seemed to indicate a turn for the better. "We are hopefully heading towards a final stretch, the light at the end of the tunnel," Trump told reporters.

Coronavirus deaths soar in US, Europe as Trump sees light at end of tunnel

The United States has always ignored the role of other nations in its agenda for hegemony. It is now struggling to contain the Coronavirus and is trying to bully allies. Could this be the end of American hegemony? WION's Palki Sharma gets you the WION Edit.

WION Edit: The end of American supremacy?

US President Donald Trump had threatened to retaliate, if India didn't resume the export of Hydroxychloroquine. Is Trump's bluster an attempt to cover up his mistakes? WION's Palki tells you why the US President is not in a position to dictate terms.

Trump's threat to India: Why the US President can't dictate terms? | Gravitas

A sizeable chunk of the 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine bought by the US to combat the coronavirus pandemic is from India, President Donald Trump has said as he acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "great" when he sought his help to allow the sale of the anti-malaria drug to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients in America.

Trump and Prime Minister Modi spoke over the phone last week. During the call, Trump requested Modi to lift the hold on the American order of hydroxychloroquine, of which India is the major producer.

Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York.

Anticipating that it will work, given initial positive results, Trump has bought more than 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for the potential treatment of COVID-19 patients.

"I bought millions of doses (of hydroxychloroquine). More than 29 million. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, a lot of it (hydroxychloroquine) comes out of India. I asked him if he would release it? He was Great. He was really good," Trump told Sean Hannity of the Fox News on Monday night.

"You know they put a stop because they wanted it for India,"&nbsp;Trump said responding to a question on the usage of hydroxychloroquine.

India on Tuesday allowed the export of hydroxychloroquine to the US, which has emerged as the global hotspot of COVID-19.

By Tuesday night, nearly four lakh Americans tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the fatalities was more than 12,850. During the interview, Trump described hydroxychloroquine as a powerful malaria drug. The drug is being tested on hundreds of coronavirus patients in New York.

"But there are a lot of good things coming from that,"&nbsp;Trump said.

"Lot of people are looking at it and saying, you know I don't hear bad stories, I hear good stories. And I don't hear anything where it is causing death,"&nbsp;said the US President.

Hydroxychloroquine, an old and inexpensive drug used to treat malaria, is seen as a viable therapeutic solution by President Trump to coronavirus.

Last week Trump said he has sought help from Prime Minister Modi to allow the sale of hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug.

India has received similar requests from several other countries including its immediate neighbours Sri Lanka and Nepal. India has said that it is reviewing its export ban order.

Notably, India's decision to ban the exports of hydroxychloroquine is driven by its desire to take stock of the domestic requirements and ensure that the country has enough of the drug.

"I would be surprised if he would, you know, because India does very well with the United States," Trump told reporters during a press briefing at the White House on Monday.

Trump and Modi enjoy a personal friendship as reflected in the president joining the prime minister at the "Howdy, Modi!" event in Houston last September.

This February, Trump made a rare India-specific solo trip to Ahmedabad and New Delhi.

India on Monday agreed to lift the ban on export of hydroxychloroquine to the US. Three Gujarat-based companies would export these tablets to the US, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Tuesday.

India manufactures 70 per cent of the world's supply of hydroxychloroquine, according to Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) secretary-general Sudarshan Jain.

The country has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each. And since the drug is also used to auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, manufacturers have good production capacities that can also be ramped up.&nbsp;

A sizeable chunk of the 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine bought by the US to combat the coronavirus pandemic is from India, President Donald Trump has said as he acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "great" when he sought his help to allow the sale of the anti-malaria drug to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients in America.

A sizeable chunk of the 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine bought by the US to combat the coronavirus pandemic is from India, President Donald Trump has said as he acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "great" when he sought his help to allow the sale of the anti-malaria drug to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients in America. Trump and Prime Minister Modi spoke over the phone last week. During the call, Trump requested Modi to lift the hold on the American order of hydroxychloroquine, of which India is the major producer. Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York. Anticipating that it will work, given initial positive results, Trump has bought more than 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for the potential treatment of COVID-19 patients. "I bought millions of doses (of hydroxychloroquine). More than 29 million. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, a lot of it (hydroxychloroquine) comes out of India. I asked him if he would release it? He was Great. He was really good," Trump told Sean Hannity of the Fox News on Monday night. "You know they put a stop because they wanted it for India," Trump said responding to a question on the usage of hydroxychloroquine. India on Tuesday allowed the export of hydroxychloroquine to the US, which has emerged as the global hotspot of COVID-19. By Tuesday night, nearly four lakh Americans tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the fatalities was more than 12,850. During the interview, Trump described hydroxychloroquine as a powerful malaria drug. The drug is being tested on hundreds of coronavirus patients in New York. "But there are a lot of good things coming from that," Trump said. "Lot of people are looking at it and saying, you know I don't hear bad stories, I hear good stories. And I don't hear anything where it is causing death," said the US President. Hydroxychloroquine, an old and inexpensive drug used to treat malaria, is seen as a viable therapeutic solution by President Trump to coronavirus. Last week Trump said he has sought help from Prime Minister Modi to allow the sale of hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug. India has received similar requests from several other countries including its immediate neighbours Sri Lanka and Nepal. India has said that it is reviewing its export ban order. Notably, India's decision to ban the exports of hydroxychloroquine is driven by its desire to take stock of the domestic requirements and ensure that the country has enough of the drug. "I would be surprised if he would, you know, because India does very well with the United States," Trump told reporters during a press briefing at the White House on Monday. Trump and Modi enjoy a personal friendship as reflected in the president joining the prime minister at the "Howdy, Modi!" event in Houston last September. This February, Trump made a rare India-specific solo trip to Ahmedabad and New Delhi. India on Monday agreed to lift the ban on export of hydroxychloroquine to the US. Three Gujarat-based companies would export these tablets to the US, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Tuesday. India manufactures 70 per cent of the world's supply of hydroxychloroquine, according to Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) secretary-general Sudarshan Jain. The country has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each. And since the drug is also used to auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, manufacturers have good production capacities that can also be ramped up.

US bought over 29 million hydroxychloroquine doses from India: Trump

US Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned Tuesday over his mishandling of an outbreak of the coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced.

Modly stepped down five days after removing the Roosevelt's captain, Brett Crozier, for writing a letter that was leaked to the media, describing the virus-struck vessel's dire situation and alleging the Pentagon was not paying adequate attention to it.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-2000-coronavirus-deaths-in-us-in-the-last-24-hours-report-291241" hreflang="en">Nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths in US in the last 24 hours: Report</a>

The removal of Crozier, respected in the military and popular with his crew, was seen as heavy-handed and decided too quickly, before an investigation was carried out.

Modly sparked outrage Monday after he flew from Washington to Guam, where the warship is docked, to defend his actions to the crew.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alls-well-that-ends-well-us-and-china-have-reached-a-truce-291239" hreflang="en">All's well that ends well? US and China have reached a 'truce'</a>

In a forceful, profanity-laced speech, he accused Crozier of "betrayal," called him "too naive or too stupid" and suggested the sailors' love for him was misplaced.

Hours later, back in Washington, Modly issued an apology, but President Donald Trump publicly questioned Crozier's treatment and&nbsp;said he would get directly involved.

Modly "resigned of his own accord, putting the Navy and the sailors above self so that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the Navy as an institution, can move forward," Esper said in a statement.

Esper said Modly's replacement as acting Navy secretary will be current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson, a retired admiral.

US Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned Tuesday over his mishandling of an outbreak of the coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced.

US Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned Tuesday over his mishandling of an outbreak of the coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced. Modly stepped down five days after removing the Roosevelt's captain, Brett Crozier, for writing a letter that was leaked to the media, describing the virus-struck vessel's dire situation and alleging the Pentagon was not paying adequate attention to it. Also read: Nearly 2,000 coronavirus deaths in US in the last 24 hours: Report The removal of Crozier, respected in the military and popular with his crew, was seen as heavy-handed and decided too quickly, before an investigation was carried out. Modly sparked outrage Monday after he flew from Washington to Guam, where the warship is docked, to defend his actions to the crew. Also read: All's well that ends well? US and China have reached a 'truce' In a forceful, profanity-laced speech, he accused Crozier of "betrayal," called him "too naive or too stupid" and suggested the sailors' love for him was misplaced. Hours later, back in Washington, Modly issued an apology, but President Donald Trump publicly questioned Crozier's treatment and said he would get directly involved. Modly "resigned of his own accord, putting the Navy and the sailors above self so that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the Navy as an institution, can move forward," Esper said in a statement. Esper said Modly's replacement as acting Navy secretary will be current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson, a retired admiral.

US navy chief resigns over handling of ship virus outbreak

The US President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday (April 7) to cut US funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing it of bias toward China, where the authorities lifted a two-and-a-half month travel ban on Wuhan, the city that spawned the global coronavirus pandemic.

Donald Trump accuses WHO of bias toward China, threatens to halt funding

President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to cut US funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of bias toward China, where the authorities lifted a two-and-a-half month travel ban on Wuhan, the city that spawned the global coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-a-half-million-americans-could-die-top-advisor-peter-navarro-warned-trump-291157" hreflang="en">'More than a half-million Americans could die': Top advisor Peter Navarro warned Trump</a>

As the United States suffered a record total of nearly 2,000 deaths in the past 24 hours, China reported no new deaths for the first time since the outbreak began in Wuhan in late December.

In Washington, Trump told reporters that he was "going to put a very powerful hold" on funding to the WHO, the UN body whose biggest contributor is the US, accusing it of being "very biased towards China."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-exploit-coronavirus-pandemic-for-sea-disputes-us-warns-china-291057" hreflang="en">Don't 'exploit' coronavirus pandemic for sea disputes: US warns China</a>

"They called it wrong," he said of a WHO travel warning on China. "They could have called it months earlier."

Trump gave no details about how much money would be withheld and minutes later he said he would only "look at ending funding."

China faces criticism over the way it handled the initial virus outbreak and Trump and others have expressed doubt over the accuracy of Chinese statistics for cases and deaths.

More than 12,800 Americans have now died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University, and with nearly 400,000 cases the country has the most in the world.

President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to cut US funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of bias toward China, where the authorities lifted a two-and-a-half month travel ban on Wuhan, the city that spawned the global coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to cut US funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of bias toward China, where the authorities lifted a two-and-a-half month travel ban on Wuhan, the city that spawned the global coronavirus pandemic. Also read: 'More than a half-million Americans could die': Top advisor Peter Navarro warned Trump As the United States suffered a record total of nearly 2,000 deaths in the past 24 hours, China reported no new deaths for the first time since the outbreak began in Wuhan in late December. In Washington, Trump told reporters that he was "going to put a very powerful hold" on funding to the WHO, the UN body whose biggest contributor is the US, accusing it of being "very biased towards China." Also read: Don't 'exploit' coronavirus pandemic for sea disputes: US warns China "They called it wrong," he said of a WHO travel warning on China. "They could have called it months earlier." Trump gave no details about how much money would be withheld and minutes later he said he would only "look at ending funding." China faces criticism over the way it handled the initial virus outbreak and Trump and others have expressed doubt over the accuracy of Chinese statistics for cases and deaths. More than 12,800 Americans have now died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University, and with nearly 400,000 cases the country has the most in the world.

Donald Trump accuses WHO of bias toward China, threatened to ‘put hold on’ US funding

President Donald Trump has warned India that the US may retaliate if it did not export anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine despite his personal request, saying he would be surprised in case of a negative outcome as New Delhi has good relations with Washington.

Donald Trump alludes to retaliation over HCQ export ban

US President Donald Trump had also spoken out in favour of using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, terming it a “game changer” in the fight against the pandemic.

30 countries raise demand for HCQ from India

Watch today in WION Fineprint: United States of America has entered the toughest week as it witnesses consecutive rise in Coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases.

Fineprint: US enters toughest week of COVID-19, consecutive rise in positive cases

The United States has donated $2.9 million assistance package for India to help the Narendra Modi government brace itself against the coronavirus as countries across the world are coming together to combat the outbreak.

On March 28, the US government, via US Agency for International Development, announced $2.9 million to support India in its response to COVID-19.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-experienced-strength-of-togetherness-of-130-crore-indians-yesterday-pm-modi-290829" hreflang="en">We experienced strength of togetherness of 130 crore Indians yesterday: PM Modi</a>

"It builds on a foundation of over $1.4 billion in health assistance and nearly $3 billion in total assistance that the US provided to India over the last 20 years," the US Embassy in India said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-death-toll-reaches-109-in-india-infections-top-4000-as-govt-draws-aggressive-containment-plan-290788" hreflang="en">COVID-19 death toll reaches 109 in India, infections top 4000 as Govt draws aggressive containment plan</a>

"These new funds will support two organisations, including $2.4 million for USAID's health strengthening project, implemented by Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organisation affiliated with Johns Hopkins University and $500,000 for the World Health Organization (WHO)," the statement said.

The funds will also help India combat the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected and support local communities with the tools needed to contain the disease, it added.

Moreover, being a global leader in health and humanitarian response to COVID-19, the US has provided approximately $18.3 million assistance package to ASEAN member countries to fight the contagion.

The funds will be used to prepare laboratories for large-scale testing for the lethal virus, infection prevention and control, enable risk communication, implement public-health emergency plans for border points of entry, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid-responders in investigation and contact-tracing and update training materials for health workers.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The United States has donated $2.9 million assistance package for India to help the Narendra Modi government brace itself against the coronavirus as countries across the world are coming together to combat the outbreak.

The United States has donated $2.9 million assistance package for India to help the Narendra Modi government brace itself against the coronavirus as countries across the world are coming together to combat the outbreak. On March 28, the US government, via US Agency for International Development, announced $2.9 million to support India in its response to COVID-19. Also read: We experienced strength of togetherness of 130 crore Indians yesterday: PM Modi "It builds on a foundation of over $1.4 billion in health assistance and nearly $3 billion in total assistance that the US provided to India over the last 20 years," the US Embassy in India said in a statement. Also read: COVID-19 death toll reaches 109 in India, infections top 4000 as Govt draws aggressive containment plan "These new funds will support two organisations, including $2.4 million for USAID's health strengthening project, implemented by Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organisation affiliated with Johns Hopkins University and $500,000 for the World Health Organization (WHO)," the statement said. The funds will also help India combat the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected and support local communities with the tools needed to contain the disease, it added. Moreover, being a global leader in health and humanitarian response to COVID-19, the US has provided approximately $18.3 million assistance package to ASEAN member countries to fight the contagion. The funds will be used to prepare laboratories for large-scale testing for the lethal virus, infection prevention and control, enable risk communication, implement public-health emergency plans for border points of entry, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid-responders in investigation and contact-tracing and update training materials for health workers.

US donates $2.9 million package to help India combat COVID-19

US President Donald Trump has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets to the US so that the drug can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. &nbsp;The two leaders spoke on the telephone to assess the situation with respect to the coronavirus pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
The US President Donald Trump said that the Indian administration led by Prime Minister Modi was giving serious consideration to export hydroxy-chloroquine to the US.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-trump-agree-to-deploy-full-strength-of-india-us-partnership-to-fight-covid-19-290605">Modi, Trump agree to deploy full strength of India-US partnership to fight COVID-19</a>

Until now, India which manufactures a massive amount of hydroxychloroquine, has put a hold on the export of this drug and its formulations. 
&nbsp; 
Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug which is being used to treat patients suffering from COVID-19.

Also read: PM Modi's call to switch off lights on Sunday creates panic

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The Trump administration has asked for large quantities of this drug, as the combination of it with some anti-viral drugs helped treat close to 1,500 COVID-19 patients in New York.

Trump also went on to say that he would not shy away from taking the tablet himself.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed deep condolences to people who had lost members of their family to the deadly coronavirus and wished early recovery for those who were still suffering from the disease. 
&nbsp; 
PM Modi also stressed the special relationship between the US and India and reiterated the country's solidarity with the US in fighting this pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
The two leaders exchanged ideas on how to combat the global health crisis and examined methods adopted in each of their countries to effectively reduce the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also had a separate telephonic conversation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to deliberate upon the impact of the novel coronavirus on our lives. 
&nbsp; 
As of now, the lethal coronavirus which reached almost all countries has infected more than one million has killed over 64,000 people worldwide.

US President Donald Trump has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets to the US so that the drug can be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

US President Donald Trump has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets to the US so that the drug can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. The two leaders spoke on the telephone to assess the situation with respect to the coronavirus pandemic. The US President Donald Trump said that the Indian administration led by Prime Minister Modi was giving serious consideration to export hydroxy-chloroquine to the US. Also read: Modi, Trump agree to deploy full strength of India-US partnership to fight COVID-19 Until now, India which manufactures a massive amount of hydroxychloroquine, has put a hold on the export of this drug and its formulations. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug which is being used to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. Also read: PM Modi's call to switch off lights on Sunday creates panic × The Trump administration has asked for large quantities of this drug, as the combination of it with some anti-viral drugs helped treat close to 1,500 COVID-19 patients in New York. Trump also went on to say that he would not shy away from taking the tablet himself. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed deep condolences to people who had lost members of their family to the deadly coronavirus and wished early recovery for those who were still suffering from the disease. PM Modi also stressed the special relationship between the US and India and reiterated the country's solidarity with the US in fighting this pandemic. The two leaders exchanged ideas on how to combat the global health crisis and examined methods adopted in each of their countries to effectively reduce the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also had a separate telephonic conversation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to deliberate upon the impact of the novel coronavirus on our lives. As of now, the lethal coronavirus which reached almost all countries has infected more than one million has killed over 64,000 people worldwide.

Coronavirus: Trump requests PM Modi to supply hydroxychloroquine tablets

In mid-March, President Donald Trump personally pressed federal health officials to make malaria drugs available to treat the novel coronavirus, though they had been untested for COVID-19, two sources told Reuters. Shortly afterward, the federal government published highly unusual guidance informing doctors they had the option to prescribe the drugs, with key dosing information based on unattributed anecdotes rather than peer-reviewed science.

While Trump, in a series of tweets and press comments, had made his opinions on the drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, well known, the nature of his behind-the-scenes intervention has not been previously reported. The guidance, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has received scant notice outside medical circles.

The episode reveals how the president’s efforts could change the nature of drug oversight, a field long governed by strict rules of science and testing. Rarely, if ever, has a U.S. president lobbied regulators and health officials to focus their efforts on specific unproven drugs.

“The president is short-circuiting the process with his gut feelings,” said Jeffrey Flier, a former dean of Harvard Medical School. “We are in an emergency and we need to rely on our government to ensure that all these potential therapies are tested in the most effective and objective way.”

In a statement to Reuters, the White House said the president had not launched a “pressure campaign” but was taking appropriate action.

“The President’s top priority is the health and safety of the American people which is why he has brought together the federal government and private sector, including doctors, scientists, and medical researchers, for an unprecedented collaboration to expedite vaccine development,” said the statement, which did not address Reuters questions about the CDC guidance.

Administration supporters say the CDC document, highlighting options, makes sense at a time of medical calamity with no proven treatment. And, they note, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been prescribed for years with known risks. Any potential risk to coronavirus patients, some argue, is worth taking given the health crisis.

“In a perfect situation you would never do this,” said a public health specialist who recently left government. “But if you know what the safety downside is, and the patient is ready to try it, it's worth a try.”

It has long been known that in certain patients, and with prolonged use, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause an interrupted heartbeat or a cardiac arrhythmia, the medical literature shows. A new research paper says these “may pose particular risk to critically ill persons.”

'NOT HAPPY’

In a series of conversations last month, President Trump personally instructed top officials at the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to focus on the two drugs as potential therapies, said two sources familiar with the president’s efforts.

In seeking a medical breakthrough to the global crisis, Trump had contacted Dr. Stephen Hahn, the FDA administrator, and other top health officials, questioning whether they were moving rapidly enough to make the drugs more widely available, one source said. “He was not happy because of the bureaucracy.”

Trump did not raise his voice or express anger, but did emphasize the “urgency” of fast-tracking access to the drugs, the other source said. A cascade of federal action soon followed to make the drugs more available, including the federal government’s grant of emergency authorization to supply them nationwide.

An NIH spokeswoman said the agency was “not the source of the content” of the CDC-compiled document. The CDC said it presented the guidance to doctors at the request of a coronavirus task force, which urged prompt action.

An FDA spokesperson declined to discuss any push by the president or address the CDC-issued guidance. The agency, in a statement to Reuters, said it acted appropriately when, later in March, it issued an emergency order allowing the drugs to be prescribed and distributed.

“It was determined, based on the scientific evidence available, that it is reasonable to believe that the specific drugs may be effective in treating COVID-19, and that, given there are no adequate, approved, or available alternative treatments, the known and potential benefits to treat this serious or life-threatening virus outweigh the known and potential risks,” the FDA statement said.

The first official action came March 21, at the height of the president’s efforts, when the CDC prepared a document, Information for Clinicians on Treatment Options for COVID-19 Patients, that included a section on the antimalarial drugs.

The document describes possible prescription information for coronavirus patients, while at the same time proposing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as an option in coronavirus treatment. It was the first time the federal government’s disease control agency had officially floated the idea.

“Although optimal dosing and duration of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 are unknown,” the document says, “some U.S. clinicians have reported anecdotally” about different hydroxychloroquine doses.

The document does not name the clinicians, say whether their treatment was successful or explain the paper’s sourcing.

Dr. Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, says she was surprised to read the document guidance, after Reuters pointed it out to her. “Geez!” she said. “No references, no nothing! Why would CDC be publishing anecdotes? That doesn’t make sense. This is very unusual.”

Flier, the former Harvard dean, agreed. “It’s kind of offering these drugs up and suggesting that doctors might prescribe them when it’s obviously not established whether or not they are effective or harmful,” he said.

The CDC declined to detail the interactions of its director, Dr. Robert Redfield, with President Trump. In a statement, the agency said the guidance was prepared at the request of the coronavirus task force and doctors who “requested CDC review the literature, compose, and post the information as quickly as possible.”

“The agency did,” the statement said.

The CDC would not disclose the identities of the authors who prepared the document, nor detail its sourcing. The document said it was reviewed by the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases.

‘BIGGEST GAME CHANGER’

Trump’s push for action came after Fox News on March 16 reported on a small French study highlighting the effectiveness of one of the drugs, hydroxychloroquine. Fox News interviewed a lawyer it said was involved, Gregory Rigano, who said “we have strong reason to believe that a preventative dose of hydroxychloroquine is going to prevent the virus from attaching to the body and just get rid of it completely.”

Rigano, appearing on Fox News again two days later, said the president “has the authority to authorize the use of hydroxychloroquine against coronavirus immediately.”

Rigano did not respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.

On March 19, Trump vowed to make the drugs more widely available. “It’s shown very encouraging – very, very encouraging early results,” he said at a press conference. “And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that’s where the FDA has been so great. They – they’ve gone through the approval process; it’s been approved. And they did it – they took it down from many, many months to immediate.”

In fact, the drug had not gone through an FDA review process by then. At the same press conference, FDA administrator Hahn said regulators were taking “a closer look.”

“That’s a drug that the president has directed us to take a closer look at, as to whether an expanded-use approach to that could be done to actually see if that benefits patients,” Hahn said.

In a press release that day, the FDA emphasized it was merely investigating whether the drugs “can be used to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms.” Studies were underway, the FDA added, “to determine the efficacy in using chloroquine to treat COVID-19.”

While the FDA approves drugs for the U.S. market and oversees the testing, the CDC is the key agency coordinating the response to infectious diseases and providing information about them. At that point, the CDC had not singled out the drugs.

Two days later, on March 21, the president personally pushed the health officials. The president also tweeted that the drugs should be “put in use immediately.” Trump, citing the study, promised that the drugs demonstrated “a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.”

That’s when the CDC posted its newer guidance to doctors, appearing to give the stamp of approval on using hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine directly for COVID-19 patients. While the document doesn’t recommend the drugs be used, it cites them as a possible option.

Meanwhile, the agency heads began publicly shifting their stance. After initially expressing caution, the FDA’s Hahn on March 23 told Fox News host Tucker Carlson that preliminary data showed the drugs might indeed help treat the disease.

Now, millions of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine pills are on their way to the public, donated by drugmakers, including Novartis’ Sandoz, Bayer and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The FDA issued an emergency authorization on March 28 allowing them to be prescribed and distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile.

NEW QUESTIONS

A paper in Annals of Internal Medicine, the premier internal medicine journal, this week warned of the dangers of touting the drugs, given the unproven evidence and their potential shortage for other uses, such as treatment for patients with lupus.

In a statement to Reuters, the paper’s authors, Drs. Jinoos Yazdany and Alfred H.J. Kim, on one hand called the CDC document “direct and factual, if its purpose is to outline what we do know.”

But they also expressed concern that the guidance may “leave the reader free to interpret this information depending on their bias. We do think a document like this should more clearly state what this means for health care providers.”

Noting the president’s tweets in their report, the authors urged the medical community and the U.S. government to send “clear messages” that include a proper interpretation of available data “to counteract misinformation, including misleading statements or articles with ‘clickbait’ material.”

In mid-March, President Donald Trump personally pressed federal health officials to make malaria drugs available to treat the novel coronavirus, though they had been untested for COVID-19, two sources told Reuters.

In mid-March, President Donald Trump personally pressed federal health officials to make malaria drugs available to treat the novel coronavirus, though they had been untested for COVID-19, two sources told Reuters. Shortly afterward, the federal government published highly unusual guidance informing doctors they had the option to prescribe the drugs, with key dosing information based on unattributed anecdotes rather than peer-reviewed science. While Trump, in a series of tweets and press comments, had made his opinions on the drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, well known, the nature of his behind-the-scenes intervention has not been previously reported. The guidance, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has received scant notice outside medical circles. The episode reveals how the president’s efforts could change the nature of drug oversight, a field long governed by strict rules of science and testing. Rarely, if ever, has a U.S. president lobbied regulators and health officials to focus their efforts on specific unproven drugs. “The president is short-circuiting the process with his gut feelings,” said Jeffrey Flier, a former dean of Harvard Medical School. “We are in an emergency and we need to rely on our government to ensure that all these potential therapies are tested in the most effective and objective way.” In a statement to Reuters, the White House said the president had not launched a “pressure campaign” but was taking appropriate action. “The President’s top priority is the health and safety of the American people which is why he has brought together the federal government and private sector, including doctors, scientists, and medical researchers, for an unprecedented collaboration to expedite vaccine development,” said the statement, which did not address Reuters questions about the CDC guidance. Administration supporters say the CDC document, highlighting options, makes sense at a time of medical calamity with no proven treatment. And, they note, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been prescribed for years with known risks. Any potential risk to coronavirus patients, some argue, is worth taking given the health crisis. “In a perfect situation you would never do this,” said a public health specialist who recently left government. “But if you know what the safety downside is, and the patient is ready to try it, it's worth a try.” It has long been known that in certain patients, and with prolonged use, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause an interrupted heartbeat or a cardiac arrhythmia, the medical literature shows. A new research paper says these “may pose particular risk to critically ill persons.” 'NOT HAPPY’ In a series of conversations last month, President Trump personally instructed top officials at the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to focus on the two drugs as potential therapies, said two sources familiar with the president’s efforts. In seeking a medical breakthrough to the global crisis, Trump had contacted Dr. Stephen Hahn, the FDA administrator, and other top health officials, questioning whether they were moving rapidly enough to make the drugs more widely available, one source said. “He was not happy because of the bureaucracy.” Trump did not raise his voice or express anger, but did emphasize the “urgency” of fast-tracking access to the drugs, the other source said. A cascade of federal action soon followed to make the drugs more available, including the federal government’s grant of emergency authorization to supply them nationwide. An NIH spokeswoman said the agency was “not the source of the content” of the CDC-compiled document. The CDC said it presented the guidance to doctors at the request of a coronavirus task force, which urged prompt action. An FDA spokesperson declined to discuss any push by the president or address the CDC-issued guidance. The agency, in a statement to Reuters, said it acted appropriately when, later in March, it issued an emergency order allowing the drugs to be prescribed and distributed. “It was determined, based on the scientific evidence available, that it is reasonable to believe that the specific drugs may be effective in treating COVID-19, and that, given there are no adequate, approved, or available alternative treatments, the known and potential benefits to treat this serious or life-threatening virus outweigh the known and potential risks,” the FDA statement said. The first official action came March 21, at the height of the president’s efforts, when the CDC prepared a document, Information for Clinicians on Treatment Options for COVID-19 Patients, that included a section on the antimalarial drugs. The document describes possible prescription information for coronavirus patients, while at the same time proposing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as an option in coronavirus treatment. It was the first time the federal government’s disease control agency had officially floated the idea. “Although optimal dosing and duration of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 are unknown,” the document says, “some U.S. clinicians have reported anecdotally” about different hydroxychloroquine doses. The document does not name the clinicians, say whether their treatment was successful or explain the paper’s sourcing. Dr. Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, says she was surprised to read the document guidance, after Reuters pointed it out to her. “Geez!” she said. “No references, no nothing! Why would CDC be publishing anecdotes? That doesn’t make sense. This is very unusual.” Flier, the former Harvard dean, agreed. “It’s kind of offering these drugs up and suggesting that doctors might prescribe them when it’s obviously not established whether or not they are effective or harmful,” he said. The CDC declined to detail the interactions of its director, Dr. Robert Redfield, with President Trump. In a statement, the agency said the guidance was prepared at the request of the coronavirus task force and doctors who “requested CDC review the literature, compose, and post the information as quickly as possible.” “The agency did,” the statement said. The CDC would not disclose the identities of the authors who prepared the document, nor detail its sourcing. The document said it was reviewed by the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. ‘BIGGEST GAME CHANGER’ Trump’s push for action came after Fox News on March 16 reported on a small French study highlighting the effectiveness of one of the drugs, hydroxychloroquine. Fox News interviewed a lawyer it said was involved, Gregory Rigano, who said “we have strong reason to believe that a preventative dose of hydroxychloroquine is going to prevent the virus from attaching to the body and just get rid of it completely.” Rigano, appearing on Fox News again two days later, said the president “has the authority to authorize the use of hydroxychloroquine against coronavirus immediately.” Rigano did not respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters. On March 19, Trump vowed to make the drugs more widely available. “It’s shown very encouraging – very, very encouraging early results,” he said at a press conference. “And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that’s where the FDA has been so great. They – they’ve gone through the approval process; it’s been approved. And they did it – they took it down from many, many months to immediate.” In fact, the drug had not gone through an FDA review process by then. At the same press conference, FDA administrator Hahn said regulators were taking “a closer look.” “That’s a drug that the president has directed us to take a closer look at, as to whether an expanded-use approach to that could be done to actually see if that benefits patients,” Hahn said. In a press release that day, the FDA emphasized it was merely investigating whether the drugs “can be used to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms.” Studies were underway, the FDA added, “to determine the efficacy in using chloroquine to treat COVID-19.” While the FDA approves drugs for the U.S. market and oversees the testing, the CDC is the key agency coordinating the response to infectious diseases and providing information about them. At that point, the CDC had not singled out the drugs. Two days later, on March 21, the president personally pushed the health officials. The president also tweeted that the drugs should be “put in use immediately.” Trump, citing the study, promised that the drugs demonstrated “a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine.” That’s when the CDC posted its newer guidance to doctors, appearing to give the stamp of approval on using hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine directly for COVID-19 patients. While the document doesn’t recommend the drugs be used, it cites them as a possible option. Meanwhile, the agency heads began publicly shifting their stance. After initially expressing caution, the FDA’s Hahn on March 23 told Fox News host Tucker Carlson that preliminary data showed the drugs might indeed help treat the disease. Now, millions of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine pills are on their way to the public, donated by drugmakers, including Novartis’ Sandoz, Bayer and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The FDA issued an emergency authorization on March 28 allowing them to be prescribed and distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile. NEW QUESTIONS A paper in Annals of Internal Medicine, the premier internal medicine journal, this week warned of the dangers of touting the drugs, given the unproven evidence and their potential shortage for other uses, such as treatment for patients with lupus. In a statement to Reuters, the paper’s authors, Drs. Jinoos Yazdany and Alfred H.J. Kim, on one hand called the CDC document “direct and factual, if its purpose is to outline what we do know.” But they also expressed concern that the guidance may “leave the reader free to interpret this information depending on their bias. We do think a document like this should more clearly state what this means for health care providers.” Noting the president’s tweets in their report, the authors urged the medical community and the U.S. government to send “clear messages” that include a proper interpretation of available data “to counteract misinformation, including misleading statements or articles with ‘clickbait’ material.”

Pressed by Trump, US pushed unproven coronavirus treatment guidance

US President Donald Trump warned Americans on Saturday to brace for a "very horrendous" number of coronavirus deaths in the coming days as the total number of global fatalities from the pandemic soared past 60,000.

As confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 300,000 with more than 8,300 deaths, there was some encouraging news in Italy and Spain.

Europe continues to bear the brunt of the epidemic, however, accounting for over 45,000 of the worldwide deaths, and Britain reported a new daily high in fatalities.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-60000-deaths-worldwide-from-coronavirus-report-290606">More than 60,000 deaths worldwide from coronavirus</a>

There are now more than 1.17 million confirmed coronavirus cases around the world and there have been 63,437 deaths since the virus emerged in China late last year.

Billions of people are living under some form on lockdown. Roughly half the planet is confined at home with schools and businesses closed, at huge cost to the global economy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-what-our-urban-life-will-look-like-after-the-coronavirus-pandemic-290481">Here’s what our urban life will look like after the coronavirus pandemic</a>

China came to a standstill on Saturday to mourn those killed in the outbreak that started in the city of Wuhan before sweeping the globe.

Across the nation, cars, trains and ships sounded their horns, and air-raid sirens wailed.

Trump, speaking at a White House briefing, said the United States was entering "a time that's going to be very horrendous" with "some really bad numbers."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-china-attempts-image-building-italians-demand-payment-of-damages-289546">As China attempts image-building, Italians demand payment of damages</a>

"This will probably be the toughest week," he said. "There will be a lot of death."

At the same time, Trump said the US cannot remain shut down forever.

"Mitigation does work but again, we're not going to destroy our country," he said. "I've said it from the beginning -- the cure cannot be worse than the problem.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-can-lead-to-brain-impairment-say-neurologists-290477">Coronavirus can lead to brain impairment, say neurologists</a>

"At a certain point some hard decisions are going to have to be made."

'Allow our hospitals to breathe'

Pandemic-hit Italy cheered on Saturday after seeing its number of intensive care cases for coronavirus drop for the first time -- from 4,068 on Friday to 3,994 on Saturday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/americans-told-to-wear-masks-as-spain-sees-signs-of-hope-290591">Americans told to wear masks as Spain sees signs of hope</a>

Even some of the most cautious Italian health officials seized on the figures as evidence that the tide may be turning in the deadliest disaster the country has faced since World War II.

"This is a very important data point," said civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli, adding that it "allows our hospitals to breathe."

The daily rise in new infections across Italy has also slowed. The country reported 681 new deaths on Saturday, down from a peak of almost 1,000 just over a week ago.

Spain, which is under a near-total lockdown, saw a second successive daily fall in coronavirus-related deaths with 809 fatalities.

The total number of deaths in Spain now stands at 11,744, second only to Italy.

Although the number of new cases also slowed, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced an extension of the country's lockdown until April 25.

At a field hospital in Madrid set up at a conference center, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be discharged.

One of them was 59-year-old builder Eduardo Lopez who gave a "10/10" rating to the staff who cared for him "with tenderness and a great dose of humanity."

'We need you'

France on Saturday reported 441 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, lower than the record number of 588 recorded the previous day.

This brought the total number of deaths in France to 7,560 since the epidemic began, top health official Jerome Salomon said.

Britain's overall death toll climbed to more than 4,300 out of nearly 42,000 cases with a five-year-old among the fatalities.

Queen Elizabeth II is to make a rare special address to Britain and Commonwealth nations on Sunday during which she will urge people to rise to the challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

New York state, the US outbreak's epicentre, saw a record 630 deaths in a single day and Governor Andrew Cuomo warned the worst was yet to come. The state has recorded a total of 3,565 deaths.

Cuomo cautioned that already strained hospitals were not prepared.

"Part of me would like to be at the apex and just, 'let's do it.' But there's part of me that says it's good that we're not at the apex because we're not yet ready," he said.

New York City appealed for licensed medical personnel to volunteer their services.&nbsp;

"Anyone who's not already in this fight, we need you," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Trump said 1,000 military personnel, mostly doctors and nurses, would be deployed to New York City to "assist where they're needed the most."

"That's the hottest of all the hot spots," he said.

Trump also said he had asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite shipments of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug which the US leader has been touting as a treatment for coronavirus although clinical trials are still underway.

"I may take it," Trump said. "I'll have to ask my doctors about that."

Masks

Several Western countries including the US, Germany and France have in recent days encouraged the use of masks in public despite earlier saying that only carers needed to cover their faces.

The U-turn has angered and confused some citizens, and spurred a flurry of online tutorials for DIY masks.

It comes after some studies suggested the new coronavirus can be spread through speaking and breathing, not just coughing and sneezing. US authorities said wearing a simple homemade mask or scarf could help stem rocketing infection rates.

The World Health Organization is reviewing its guidance but has said it worries that masks could give "a false sense of security," leading people to be more casual about hand washing and social distancing.

US President Donald Trump warned Americans on Saturday to brace for a "very horrendous" number of coronavirus deaths in the coming days as the total number of global fatalities from the pandemic soared past 60,000.

US President Donald Trump warned Americans on Saturday to brace for a "very horrendous" number of coronavirus deaths in the coming days as the total number of global fatalities from the pandemic soared past 60,000. As confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 300,000 with more than 8,300 deaths, there was some encouraging news in Italy and Spain. Europe continues to bear the brunt of the epidemic, however, accounting for over 45,000 of the worldwide deaths, and Britain reported a new daily high in fatalities. Also read: More than 60,000 deaths worldwide from coronavirus There are now more than 1.17 million confirmed coronavirus cases around the world and there have been 63,437 deaths since the virus emerged in China late last year. Billions of people are living under some form on lockdown. Roughly half the planet is confined at home with schools and businesses closed, at huge cost to the global economy. Also read: Here’s what our urban life will look like after the coronavirus pandemic China came to a standstill on Saturday to mourn those killed in the outbreak that started in the city of Wuhan before sweeping the globe. Across the nation, cars, trains and ships sounded their horns, and air-raid sirens wailed. Trump, speaking at a White House briefing, said the United States was entering "a time that's going to be very horrendous" with "some really bad numbers." Also read: As China attempts image-building, Italians demand payment of damages "This will probably be the toughest week," he said. "There will be a lot of death." At the same time, Trump said the US cannot remain shut down forever. "Mitigation does work but again, we're not going to destroy our country," he said. "I've said it from the beginning -- the cure cannot be worse than the problem. Also read: Coronavirus can lead to brain impairment, say neurologists "At a certain point some hard decisions are going to have to be made." 'Allow our hospitals to breathe' Pandemic-hit Italy cheered on Saturday after seeing its number of intensive care cases for coronavirus drop for the first time -- from 4,068 on Friday to 3,994 on Saturday. Also read: Americans told to wear masks as Spain sees signs of hope Even some of the most cautious Italian health officials seized on the figures as evidence that the tide may be turning in the deadliest disaster the country has faced since World War II. "This is a very important data point," said civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli, adding that it "allows our hospitals to breathe." The daily rise in new infections across Italy has also slowed. The country reported 681 new deaths on Saturday, down from a peak of almost 1,000 just over a week ago. Spain, which is under a near-total lockdown, saw a second successive daily fall in coronavirus-related deaths with 809 fatalities. The total number of deaths in Spain now stands at 11,744, second only to Italy. Although the number of new cases also slowed, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced an extension of the country's lockdown until April 25. At a field hospital in Madrid set up at a conference center, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be discharged. One of them was 59-year-old builder Eduardo Lopez who gave a "10/10" rating to the staff who cared for him "with tenderness and a great dose of humanity." 'We need you' France on Saturday reported 441 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, lower than the record number of 588 recorded the previous day. This brought the total number of deaths in France to 7,560 since the epidemic began, top health official Jerome Salomon said. Britain's overall death toll climbed to more than 4,300 out of nearly 42,000 cases with a five-year-old among the fatalities. Queen Elizabeth II is to make a rare special address to Britain and Commonwealth nations on Sunday during which she will urge people to rise to the challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak. New York state, the US outbreak's epicentre, saw a record 630 deaths in a single day and Governor Andrew Cuomo warned the worst was yet to come. The state has recorded a total of 3,565 deaths. Cuomo cautioned that already strained hospitals were not prepared. "Part of me would like to be at the apex and just, 'let's do it.' But there's part of me that says it's good that we're not at the apex because we're not yet ready," he said. New York City appealed for licensed medical personnel to volunteer their services. "Anyone who's not already in this fight, we need you," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Trump said 1,000 military personnel, mostly doctors and nurses, would be deployed to New York City to "assist where they're needed the most." "That's the hottest of all the hot spots," he said. Trump also said he had asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite shipments of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug which the US leader has been touting as a treatment for coronavirus although clinical trials are still underway. "I may take it," Trump said. "I'll have to ask my doctors about that." Masks Several Western countries including the US, Germany and France have in recent days encouraged the use of masks in public despite earlier saying that only carers needed to cover their faces. The U-turn has angered and confused some citizens, and spurred a flurry of online tutorials for DIY masks. It comes after some studies suggested the new coronavirus can be spread through speaking and breathing, not just coughing and sneezing. US authorities said wearing a simple homemade mask or scarf could help stem rocketing infection rates. The World Health Organization is reviewing its guidance but has said it worries that masks could give "a false sense of security," leading people to be more casual about hand washing and social distancing.

Trump warns of 'tough week' ahead as confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 300,000

In defending his strategy against the deadly coronavirus, President Donald Trump repeatedly has said he slowed its spread into the United States by acting decisively to bar travellers from China on Jan. 31.

“I was criticized by the Democrats when I closed the Country down to China many weeks ahead of what almost everyone recommended. Saved many lives,” he tweeted, for instance, on March 2.

But Reuters has found that the administration took a month from the time it learned of the outbreak in late December to impose the initial travel restrictions amid furious infighting.

During that time, the National Security Council staff, the state department and other federal agencies argued about everything from how best to screen for sick travellers to the economic impact of any restrictions, according to two government officials familiar with the deliberations.

The NSC staff ultimately proposed aggressive travel restrictions to high-level administration officials - but it took at least a week more for the president to adopt them, one of the government officials said.

In meetings, Matthew Pottinger, deputy national security adviser and a China expert, met opposition from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow, said two former NSC officials and one of the government officials involved in the deliberations. The two top aides were concerned about the economic fallout from barring travellers from China, the sources said.

Each day that the administration debated the travel measures, roughly 14,000 travellers arrived in the United States from China, according to figures cited by the Trump administration. Among them was a traveller who came from Wuhan to Seattle in mid-January, who turned out to be the first confirmed case in the United States.

On Jan. 22, Trump downplayed the threat posed by the virus, telling CNBC from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, “We have it totally under control.”

The battle within the White House over whether and how to stop infected travellers from China lasted nine more days.

On Jan. 31, Trump issued a proclamation barring entry of non-U.S. citizens, other than the immediate family of citizens and permanent residents, who had traveled to China within the last two weeks. The restrictions have since been expanded to many other countries.

It is unclear when the president was made aware of the NSC’s proposal and what prompted his decision to act, but the decision followed the World Health Organization's declaration the day before that the epidemic was a "public health emergency of international concern.”

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials told Reuters that they contributed to the decision as part of the administration's newly convened coronavirus task force.

A Treasury Department spokesperson said that Mnuchin “never objected to the decision to restrict flights from China.”

A White House spokesman, Judd P Deere, said: “Any suggestion that Larry Kudlow objected to restricting flights from China to contain COVID-19 and protect the health of the American people is completely false. Larry fully supported the President’s bold decision.”

In a statement, NSC spokesman John Ullyot said that the council’s early meetings about the coronavirus involved great expertise and robust discussion and were professional.

As of April 4, the coronavirus has infected more than 300,000 people in the United States, and killed over 8,000, according to the Reuters coronavirus tracker. The country has more cases than anywhere else in the world.

The sources for this story, former NSC members, public health officials and others involved in, or briefed on, the administration’s response, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the record.

In defending his strategy against the deadly coronavirus, President Donald Trump repeatedly has said he slowed its spread into the United States by acting decisively to bar travellers from China on Jan.

In defending his strategy against the deadly coronavirus, President Donald Trump repeatedly has said he slowed its spread into the United States by acting decisively to bar travellers from China on Jan. 31. “I was criticized by the Democrats when I closed the Country down to China many weeks ahead of what almost everyone recommended. Saved many lives,” he tweeted, for instance, on March 2. But Reuters has found that the administration took a month from the time it learned of the outbreak in late December to impose the initial travel restrictions amid furious infighting. During that time, the National Security Council staff, the state department and other federal agencies argued about everything from how best to screen for sick travellers to the economic impact of any restrictions, according to two government officials familiar with the deliberations. The NSC staff ultimately proposed aggressive travel restrictions to high-level administration officials - but it took at least a week more for the president to adopt them, one of the government officials said. In meetings, Matthew Pottinger, deputy national security adviser and a China expert, met opposition from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow, said two former NSC officials and one of the government officials involved in the deliberations. The two top aides were concerned about the economic fallout from barring travellers from China, the sources said. Each day that the administration debated the travel measures, roughly 14,000 travellers arrived in the United States from China, according to figures cited by the Trump administration. Among them was a traveller who came from Wuhan to Seattle in mid-January, who turned out to be the first confirmed case in the United States. On Jan. 22, Trump downplayed the threat posed by the virus, telling CNBC from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, “We have it totally under control.” The battle within the White House over whether and how to stop infected travellers from China lasted nine more days. On Jan. 31, Trump issued a proclamation barring entry of non-U.S. citizens, other than the immediate family of citizens and permanent residents, who had traveled to China within the last two weeks. The restrictions have since been expanded to many other countries. It is unclear when the president was made aware of the NSC’s proposal and what prompted his decision to act, but the decision followed the World Health Organization's declaration the day before that the epidemic was a "public health emergency of international concern.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials told Reuters that they contributed to the decision as part of the administration's newly convened coronavirus task force. A Treasury Department spokesperson said that Mnuchin “never objected to the decision to restrict flights from China.” A White House spokesman, Judd P Deere, said: “Any suggestion that Larry Kudlow objected to restricting flights from China to contain COVID-19 and protect the health of the American people is completely false. Larry fully supported the President’s bold decision.” In a statement, NSC spokesman John Ullyot said that the council’s early meetings about the coronavirus involved great expertise and robust discussion and were professional. As of April 4, the coronavirus has infected more than 300,000 people in the United States, and killed over 8,000, according to the Reuters coronavirus tracker. The country has more cases than anywhere else in the world. The sources for this story, former NSC members, public health officials and others involved in, or briefed on, the administration’s response, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the record.

As Trump administration debated travel restrictions, thousands streamed in from China

A planned $1 billion cut in US aid to Afghanistan would come from funds for Afghan security forces, according to three US sources, a step experts said would undercut both Kabul's ability to fight the Taliban and its leverage to negotiate a peace deal with them.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the reduction on March 23 and threatened to slash the same amount next year to try to force Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah to end a feud that has helped stall US-led peace-making efforts in Afghanistan.

After nearly 20 years of fighting the Taliban, the United States is looking for a way to extricate itself and to achieve peace between the US-backed government and the militant group, which controls more than 40% of Afghan territory.

Pompeo and other US&nbsp;officials have declined to publicly detail how the cut would be made. The State Department declined to comment on its plans.

Two US&nbsp;congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said State Department officials told Congress the $1 billion would come from a $4.2 billion Pentagon fund that underwrites about three quarters of the Afghan security forces' annual budget.

"The idea they would cut security forces funding goes against U.S. national security interests," said one aide, arguing the money is needed to maintain the U.S.-backed government's ability to fight the Taliban while preserving its bargaining power in peace talks.

Most of the fund pays for salaries, food, fuel, equipment and infrastructure to support Afghan troops and national police.

Congress appropriated at least $86.4 billion for Afghan security assistance between fiscal years 2002 and 2019, according to a March 11 Congressional Research Service report.

"That's the only fund large enough to support a $1 billion cut," said the third source, a former US&nbsp;military official who also requested anonymity.

US&nbsp;civilian aid is far lower, with the State Department requesting $532.8 million this year, mainly for general economic support as well as for counter-narcotics and law enforcement.

Pompeo announced the cut as he flew home from Kabul after failing to persuade Ghani and Abdullah to end a dispute over Afghanistan's September 2019 presidential election.

Both men claim they won and have held rival inaugurations.

Pompeo said the cut could be reversed if the two resolved their dispute, which had stymied naming an Afghan delegation to negotiate peace with the Taliban after decades of war.

His threat appears to have had some impact.

On March 26, Ghani announced a negotiating team including Abdullah allies and Abdullah endorsed the slate on March 31.

Government and Taliban officials have also agreed to start prisoner releases as a prelude to peace talks envisaged under a Feb. 29 US-Taliban deal for a phased US&nbsp;troop withdrawal.

Laurel Miller, a former State Department official handling Afghanistan policy, said a $1 billion cut would take time to be felt but would hurt Afghan security operations and morale.

It would also allow the Taliban to start peace talks "riding high," said Miller, now at the International Crisis Group think tank.

In the meantime, the Ghani-Abdullah dispute has persisted.

'THEY WILL BE TOAST'

A U.S. defense official, who said the administration was still weighing where to make the cut, described "huge concern" within the Pentagon about slashing funding for Afghan forces.

"We really don't want to have to do this," said the official on condition of anonymity, while acknowledging it made sense to target those funds because of the leverage it gave Washington.

"That is the pain point. That is what they care about a lot," said the official, adding that there were internal talks about whether enough progress has been made for Pompeo to withdraw the threatened cut.

The former U.S. military official said the proposed cut reflects U.S. President Donald Trump's determination to bring U.S. forces home from the longest conflict in American history.

Asked what $1 billion U.S. aid cuts this year and next would do to Afghan security forces' ability to fight the Taliban, he replied: "They will be toast."

A planned $1 billion cut in US aid to Afghanistan would come from funds for Afghan security forces, according to three US sources, a step experts said would undercut both Kabul's ability to fight the Taliban and its leverage to negotiate a peace deal with them.

A planned $1 billion cut in US aid to Afghanistan would come from funds for Afghan security forces, according to three US sources, a step experts said would undercut both Kabul's ability to fight the Taliban and its leverage to negotiate a peace deal with them. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the reduction on March 23 and threatened to slash the same amount next year to try to force Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah to end a feud that has helped stall US-led peace-making efforts in Afghanistan. After nearly 20 years of fighting the Taliban, the United States is looking for a way to extricate itself and to achieve peace between the US-backed government and the militant group, which controls more than 40% of Afghan territory. Pompeo and other US officials have declined to publicly detail how the cut would be made. The State Department declined to comment on its plans. Two US congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said State Department officials told Congress the $1 billion would come from a $4.2 billion Pentagon fund that underwrites about three quarters of the Afghan security forces' annual budget. "The idea they would cut security forces funding goes against U.S. national security interests," said one aide, arguing the money is needed to maintain the U.S.-backed government's ability to fight the Taliban while preserving its bargaining power in peace talks. Most of the fund pays for salaries, food, fuel, equipment and infrastructure to support Afghan troops and national police. Congress appropriated at least $86.4 billion for Afghan security assistance between fiscal years 2002 and 2019, according to a March 11 Congressional Research Service report. "That's the only fund large enough to support a $1 billion cut," said the third source, a former US military official who also requested anonymity. US civilian aid is far lower, with the State Department requesting $532.8 million this year, mainly for general economic support as well as for counter-narcotics and law enforcement. Pompeo announced the cut as he flew home from Kabul after failing to persuade Ghani and Abdullah to end a dispute over Afghanistan's September 2019 presidential election. Both men claim they won and have held rival inaugurations. Pompeo said the cut could be reversed if the two resolved their dispute, which had stymied naming an Afghan delegation to negotiate peace with the Taliban after decades of war. His threat appears to have had some impact. On March 26, Ghani announced a negotiating team including Abdullah allies and Abdullah endorsed the slate on March 31. Government and Taliban officials have also agreed to start prisoner releases as a prelude to peace talks envisaged under a Feb. 29 US-Taliban deal for a phased US troop withdrawal. Laurel Miller, a former State Department official handling Afghanistan policy, said a $1 billion cut would take time to be felt but would hurt Afghan security operations and morale. It would also allow the Taliban to start peace talks "riding high," said Miller, now at the International Crisis Group think tank. In the meantime, the Ghani-Abdullah dispute has persisted. 'THEY WILL BE TOAST' A U.S. defense official, who said the administration was still weighing where to make the cut, described "huge concern" within the Pentagon about slashing funding for Afghan forces. "We really don't want to have to do this," said the official on condition of anonymity, while acknowledging it made sense to target those funds because of the leverage it gave Washington. "That is the pain point. That is what they care about a lot," said the official, adding that there were internal talks about whether enough progress has been made for Pompeo to withdraw the threatened cut. The former U.S. military official said the proposed cut reflects U.S. President Donald Trump's determination to bring U.S. forces home from the longest conflict in American history. Asked what $1 billion U.S. aid cuts this year and next would do to Afghan security forces' ability to fight the Taliban, he replied: "They will be toast."

Planned $1 billion US aid cut would hit Afghan security force funds: Report

OPEC and Russia have postponed a meeting planned for Monday until later next week, OPEC sources said on Saturday, as a row intensified between Moscow and Saudi Arabia over who is to blame for plunging oil prices.

The meeting's delay came despite pressure from US&nbsp;President Donald Trump for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, to urgently stabilise global oil markets.

OPEC+ is working on an unprecedented oil output curb equal to about 10% of world supply, or 10 million barrels per day, in what member states expect to be a global effort that will include the United States.

Oil prices hit an 18-year low on March 30 due to sliding demand caused by government lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak and the failure of OPEC and other producers led by Russia to extend an earlier deal on output curbs that expired on March 31.

Washington, however, has yet to make a commitment to join the effort and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday put the blame for the collapse in prices on Saudi Arabia -- prompting a firm response from Riyadh on Saturday.

"The Russian Minister of Energy was the first to declare to the media that all the participating countries are absolved of their commitments starting from the first of April, leading to the decision that the countries have taken to raise their production," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.

Putin, speaking during a video conference with government officials and heads of Russian major oil producers on Friday, said the first reason for the fall in prices was the impact of the coronavirus on demand.

"The second reason behind the collapse of prices is the withdrawal of our partners from Saudi Arabia from the OPEC+ deal, their production increase and information, which came out at the same time, about the readiness of our partners to even provide a discount for oil," Putin said.

Three OPEC sources, who asked not be identified, said the emergency virtual meeting planned for Monday would likely be postponed until April 8 or 9 to allow more time for negotiations.

Sources later downplayed the Saudi-Russia row, saying the atmosphere was still positive, although there is no draft deal yet or agreement on details such as a reference level from which to make the supply cuts.

"The first problem is that we have to cut from the current production level now, not to go back to the one before the crisis," one of the OPEC sources said.

"The second issue is the Americans, they have to play a part."

Oil rises from lows

Oil recovered from the lows of $20 per barrel this week with Brent settling at $34.11 on Friday, still far below the $66 closing level at the end of 2019.

Prices had their biggest one-day gain ever on Thursday when Trump said he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia to announce a major production cut.

The United States is not part of OPEC+ and the idea of Washington curbing production has long been seen as impossible, not least because of U.S. antitrust laws.

Still, the oil crash has spurred regulators in Texas, the heart of U.S. oil production, to consider regulating output for the first time in nearly 50 years.

But US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, in a call with oil industry leaders on Friday, did not mention the possibility of US&nbsp;production cuts, a source who listened to the call said.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian state media he understood that the United States has legal restrictions on output cuts, but it should still be flexible.

Officials from other oil producers that do not belong to OPEC+ have indicated willingness to help. Canada's Alberta province, home to the world's third-largest oil reserves, is open to joining any potential global pact

The International Energy Agency warned on Friday that a cut of 10 million bpd would not be enough to counter the huge fall in oil demand. Even with such a cut, inventories would increase by 15 million bpd in the second quarter.

OPEC and Russia have postponed a meeting planned for Monday until later next week, OPEC sources said on Saturday, as a row intensified between Moscow and Saudi Arabia over who is to blame for plunging oil prices.

OPEC and Russia have postponed a meeting planned for Monday until later next week, OPEC sources said on Saturday, as a row intensified between Moscow and Saudi Arabia over who is to blame for plunging oil prices. The meeting's delay came despite pressure from US President Donald Trump for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, to urgently stabilise global oil markets. OPEC+ is working on an unprecedented oil output curb equal to about 10% of world supply, or 10 million barrels per day, in what member states expect to be a global effort that will include the United States. Oil prices hit an 18-year low on March 30 due to sliding demand caused by government lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak and the failure of OPEC and other producers led by Russia to extend an earlier deal on output curbs that expired on March 31. Washington, however, has yet to make a commitment to join the effort and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday put the blame for the collapse in prices on Saudi Arabia -- prompting a firm response from Riyadh on Saturday. "The Russian Minister of Energy was the first to declare to the media that all the participating countries are absolved of their commitments starting from the first of April, leading to the decision that the countries have taken to raise their production," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. Putin, speaking during a video conference with government officials and heads of Russian major oil producers on Friday, said the first reason for the fall in prices was the impact of the coronavirus on demand. "The second reason behind the collapse of prices is the withdrawal of our partners from Saudi Arabia from the OPEC+ deal, their production increase and information, which came out at the same time, about the readiness of our partners to even provide a discount for oil," Putin said. Three OPEC sources, who asked not be identified, said the emergency virtual meeting planned for Monday would likely be postponed until April 8 or 9 to allow more time for negotiations. Sources later downplayed the Saudi-Russia row, saying the atmosphere was still positive, although there is no draft deal yet or agreement on details such as a reference level from which to make the supply cuts. "The first problem is that we have to cut from the current production level now, not to go back to the one before the crisis," one of the OPEC sources said. "The second issue is the Americans, they have to play a part." Oil rises from lows Oil recovered from the lows of $20 per barrel this week with Brent settling at $34.11 on Friday, still far below the $66 closing level at the end of 2019. Prices had their biggest one-day gain ever on Thursday when Trump said he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia to announce a major production cut. The United States is not part of OPEC+ and the idea of Washington curbing production has long been seen as impossible, not least because of U.S. antitrust laws. Still, the oil crash has spurred regulators in Texas, the heart of U.S. oil production, to consider regulating output for the first time in nearly 50 years. But US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, in a call with oil industry leaders on Friday, did not mention the possibility of US production cuts, a source who listened to the call said. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian state media he understood that the United States has legal restrictions on output cuts, but it should still be flexible. Officials from other oil producers that do not belong to OPEC+ have indicated willingness to help. Canada's Alberta province, home to the world's third-largest oil reserves, is open to joining any potential global pact The International Energy Agency warned on Friday that a cut of 10 million bpd would not be enough to counter the huge fall in oil demand. Even with such a cut, inventories would increase by 15 million bpd in the second quarter.

OPEC+ meeting delayed as Saudi Arabia and Russia row over price collapse

President Donald Trump announced Friday he was firing a senior intelligence official who had a central role in the complaint last August that sparked the impeachment trial of the US leader.

In a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Trump said he had lost confidence in Michael Atkinson, the independent inspector general of the broad US intelligence community.

Atkinson reviewed and transmitted an anonymous whistle-blower's complaint in August that alleged that Trump had sought personal political favours from Ukraine in violation of US law.

The complaint became the basis for Trump's impeachment, which saw him put through a historic trial for removal in the Senate in January.&nbsp;

The president was charged with holding up official military aid to Ukraine in exchange for Kiev helping to smear his expected 2020 election foe, Democrat Joe Biden.

After deciding the complaint had merit, Atkinson, a 55-year-old veteran government attorney, forwarded it to the Justice Department and to Congress, setting off the impeachment investigation.

Atkinson then testified in a closed hearing of the House Intelligence Committee investigating the allegations, at a time when the White House sought to prevent other administration officials from giving evidence.

Ultimately Trump was voted not guilty by the Republican-controlled Senate in early February.

He then embarked on a campaign to force from office a number of officials in the White House, State Department and Pentagon who cooperated with the probe.&nbsp;

Atkinson, who Trump appointed to his post in 2018, was long understood to be in the president's sights.

"It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general," Trump wrote in the letter to the two top senators on the Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr and Mark Warner.

"This is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general," he said, without explaining why.

Warner, a Democrat, blasted Trump for what he called "ongoing attempts to politicize the nation's intelligence agencies."

"In the midst of a national emergency, it is unconscionable that the president is once again attempting to undermine the integrity of the intelligence community by firing yet another an intelligence official simply for doing his job," he wrote.

"The work of the intelligence community has never been about loyalty to a single individual; it's about keeping us all safe from those who wish to do our country harm."

President Donald Trump announced Friday he was firing a senior intelligence official who had a central role in the complaint last August that sparked the impeachment trial of the US leader.

President Donald Trump announced Friday he was firing a senior intelligence official who had a central role in the complaint last August that sparked the impeachment trial of the US leader. In a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Trump said he had lost confidence in Michael Atkinson, the independent inspector general of the broad US intelligence community. Atkinson reviewed and transmitted an anonymous whistle-blower's complaint in August that alleged that Trump had sought personal political favours from Ukraine in violation of US law. The complaint became the basis for Trump's impeachment, which saw him put through a historic trial for removal in the Senate in January. The president was charged with holding up official military aid to Ukraine in exchange for Kiev helping to smear his expected 2020 election foe, Democrat Joe Biden. After deciding the complaint had merit, Atkinson, a 55-year-old veteran government attorney, forwarded it to the Justice Department and to Congress, setting off the impeachment investigation. Atkinson then testified in a closed hearing of the House Intelligence Committee investigating the allegations, at a time when the White House sought to prevent other administration officials from giving evidence. Ultimately Trump was voted not guilty by the Republican-controlled Senate in early February. He then embarked on a campaign to force from office a number of officials in the White House, State Department and Pentagon who cooperated with the probe. Atkinson, who Trump appointed to his post in 2018, was long understood to be in the president's sights. "It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general," Trump wrote in the letter to the two top senators on the Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr and Mark Warner. "This is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general," he said, without explaining why. Warner, a Democrat, blasted Trump for what he called "ongoing attempts to politicize the nation's intelligence agencies." "In the midst of a national emergency, it is unconscionable that the president is once again attempting to undermine the integrity of the intelligence community by firing yet another an intelligence official simply for doing his job," he wrote. "The work of the intelligence community has never been about loyalty to a single individual; it's about keeping us all safe from those who wish to do our country harm."

Trump fires intelligence official who had key impeachment role

US President&nbsp;Donald Trump's net worth&nbsp;has dropped by $1 billion in a single month as the novel coronavirus has infected his business according to the estimates released by the Forbes magazine.

His net worth was&nbsp;$3.1 billion a month ago but it fell to $2.1 billion a month later.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-employment-falls-701000-in-march-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-290408" hreflang="en">US employment falls 701,000 in March amid coronavirus pandemic</a>

Before the coronavirus disrupted everything, the properties owned by Trump&nbsp;were valued at an estimated $1.9 billion after deducting debt. But by&nbsp;March 18, 2020, its prices dropped to an estimated $1.2 billion.&nbsp;

The value of his Boston Properties and Vornado Realty Trust also went down by&nbsp;37 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-worst-yet-to-come-for-countries-in-conflict-says-un-chief-290455" hreflang="en">Coronavirus pandemic: 'Worst yet to come' for countries in conflict, says UN chief</a>

Trump's business was specifically exempted from the US $2 trillion coronavirus bailout package and his company is seeking leniency from its top creditor as well as from Palm Beach County, Florida, according to media reports.

His organization has put plans to sell&nbsp;luxury hotel called 'Trump International' in Washington D.C. on hold as well.

<img alt="Trump hotel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16765188-e393-4d57-966f-a831fb9fc546" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%289%29_29.jpg" />

Trump representatives have contacted the German lender&nbsp;Deutsche&nbsp;bank, to ''discuss the possibility of delaying payments on some of the hundreds of millions of dollars of outstanding loans that the Trump Organization has from the bank.''

US President Donald Trump's net worth has dropped by $1 billion in a single month as the novel coronavirus has infected his business according to the estimates released by the Forbes magazine.

US President Donald Trump's net worth has dropped by $1 billion in a single month as the novel coronavirus has infected his business according to the estimates released by the Forbes magazine. His net worth was $3.1 billion a month ago but it fell to $2.1 billion a month later. Also read: US employment falls 701,000 in March amid coronavirus pandemic Before the coronavirus disrupted everything, the properties owned by Trump were valued at an estimated $1.9 billion after deducting debt. But by March 18, 2020, its prices dropped to an estimated $1.2 billion. The value of his Boston Properties and Vornado Realty Trust also went down by 37 per cent. Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: 'Worst yet to come' for countries in conflict, says UN chief Trump's business was specifically exempted from the US $2 trillion coronavirus bailout package and his company is seeking leniency from its top creditor as well as from Palm Beach County, Florida, according to media reports. His organization has put plans to sell luxury hotel called 'Trump International' in Washington D.C. on hold as well. Trump representatives have contacted the German lender Deutsche bank, to ''discuss the possibility of delaying payments on some of the hundreds of millions of dollars of outstanding loans that the Trump Organization has from the bank.''

Trump's net worth plummets $1 billion amid coronavirus pandemic

The US President Donald Trump informed reporters that he tested negative for the virus, saying: "I just took it this morning, it said the president tested negative for COVID-19." The United States reported the highest one-day death toll due to coronavirus recording 1,169 fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University live COVID-19 tracker.

Donald Trump again tests negative for coronavirus

A Russian medical equipment delivery to the United States to help fight the coronavirus pandemic was&nbsp;criticised and prompted confusion in both the countries.

The country's military plane carrying coronavirus protective gear and ventilators had landed in New York City on Wednesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-will-us-economy-bottom-economists-hunt-for-the-right-view-290372" hreflang="en">When will US economy bottom? Economists hunt for the right view</a>

The delivery came days after President Donald Trump spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half borne&nbsp;by Washington.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-scarves-offer-better-protection-than-masks-but-is-that-true-290365" hreflang="en">Trump claims scarves offer better protection than masks, but is that true?</a>

According to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, "both countries have provided humanitarian assistance to each other in times of crisis in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future.''

&nbsp;"This is a time to work together to overcome a common enemy that threatens the lives of all us,'' she added.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-transforms-famous-spots-into-makeshift-hospitals-as-coronavirus-death-toll-tops-4000-289895">US transforms famous spots into makeshift hospitals as coronavirus death toll tops 4,000</a>

While,&nbsp;former State Department officials in US were "mystified" and "bemused" by the United States' purchase of medical supplies from Russia.&nbsp;

Critics of President Vladimir Putin said the delivery was a publicity stunt that squandered precious&nbsp;medical resources which Russia's regions are&nbsp;itself experiencing severe shortages of such items.

However, the&nbsp;Kremlin said&nbsp;the move is a&nbsp;goodwill gesture at a time when it says all nations need to unite to take on coronavirus&nbsp;and said it hopes Russia might be able to access US&nbsp;medical equipment in future if necessary.

When Russians condemened the move of its country online, it's Health Ministry said on Thursday that the country had enough ventilators to meet its current needs and that hospitals would receive another 8,000 by the end of May.

A Russian medical equipment delivery to the United States to help fight the coronavirus pandemic was criticised and prompted confusion in both the countries. The country's military plane carrying coronavirus protective gear and ventilators had landed in New York City on Wednesday.

A Russian medical equipment delivery to the United States to help fight the coronavirus pandemic was criticised and prompted confusion in both the countries. The country's military plane carrying coronavirus protective gear and ventilators had landed in New York City on Wednesday. Also read: When will US economy bottom? Economists hunt for the right view The delivery came days after President Donald Trump spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half borne by Washington. Also read: Trump claims scarves offer better protection than masks, but is that true? According to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, "both countries have provided humanitarian assistance to each other in times of crisis in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future.'' "This is a time to work together to overcome a common enemy that threatens the lives of all us,'' she added. Also see: US transforms famous spots into makeshift hospitals as coronavirus death toll tops 4,000 While, former State Department officials in US were "mystified" and "bemused" by the United States' purchase of medical supplies from Russia. Critics of President Vladimir Putin said the delivery was a publicity stunt that squandered precious medical resources which Russia's regions are itself experiencing severe shortages of such items. However, the Kremlin said the move is a goodwill gesture at a time when it says all nations need to unite to take on coronavirus and said it hopes Russia might be able to access US medical equipment in future if necessary. When Russians condemened the move of its country online, it's Health Ministry said on Thursday that the country had enough ventilators to meet its current needs and that hospitals would receive another 8,000 by the end of May.

Why Russia's coronavirus supplies to US sparked criticism?

Will the coronavirus outbreak force the United States to postpone the 2020 Presidential elections? Wion's Palki tells you how the presidential campaign in the US has been thrown out of gear.

Gravitas: Coronavirus outbreak: Could the 2020 US Election Be Postponed?

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