Coronavirus cases continue to rapidly increase in the US with 1,016 confirmed across the country, despite Donald Trump claiming the number would go down in the coming days.

The president and his administration faced backlash for its slow response to the novel virus. In an attempt to curb fears, Trump is working with lawmakers on a stimulus package to address economic fallout from the virus. Also under consideration is delaying the April 15 tax deadline. But Wall Street still took a tumble this morning, dropping nearly 3 per cent at the opening bell.

Health experts warn the epidemic has become the ‘perfect killing machine’ for the elderly after clusters in nursing facilities in states like Washington lead to a majority of deaths in the US. New York said it would implement rules for nursing facilities to protect residents.

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2020-03-11T14:42:08.306Z

Officials schedule emergency meeting at White House to address pandemic 
 

Trump called an emergency meeting among health officials on Wednesday morning to address the growing coronavirus outbreak in the US. 

His emergency meeting cut a congressional meeting short on Capitol Hill in Washington DC because the witnesses at the hearing were needed at the White House. 

"This morning we were informed that President Trump and Vice President Pence have called our witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House. We don't know the details, just that it's extremely urgent," Representative Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

Officials called to the White House include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, CDC Director Robert Redfield, and Terry Rauch, director of the defense medical research and development program for the National Institute of Health. 

2020-03-11T14:33:54.720Z

Stock market tumbles over coronavirus 

The DOW dropped more than 800 points on Wednesday, showing the violative stock market these last couple weeks might be here to stay. 

On Monday, the stock market experienced its worst loss since 2008 over fears the coronavirus could push the economy into another recession. Dropping oil stocks also influenced the market. But then stocks were able to rally on Tuesday with the DOW reporting gains of 1,167 points.

Trump met with Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to work on a package that would address economic fallout from the coronavirus, but it failed to curb fears from investors when the market opened Wednesday. 

2020-03-11T14:21:29.723Z

Health officials say epidemic is 'perfect killing machine' for elderly

American Health Care Association President Mark Parkinson has asked relatives and friends to avoid visiting patients in nursing and assisted living facilities amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

"We are encouraging all people, including family members and loved ones, to not visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities," he said Tuesday. 

Alternative ways to communicate with patients were encouraged, including calling over the phone, texting, or using FaceTime. 

"The grim reality is that, for the elderly, COVID-19 is almost a perfect killing machine," Mr Parkinson said.

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2020-03-11T14:18:10.733Z

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