Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday repeated his assertion that the coronavirus originated from China.
He also claimed that China had taken economic "advantage" of the US until his administration came into power.
Trump made the comments at a briefing at the White House.
The coronavirus pandemic has spread across US states with experts warning it could spread further.
The US leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 82,000.
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
Also Read: US overtakes China with over 82,000 coronavirus cases
Last week, Trump unveiled a 15-day program advising against large gatherings and calling for many Americans to remain at home.
The guidelines, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are voluntary, but many state and local leaders have issued mandatory restrictions in line with, or even tighter than, those issued by the CDC.
