Trump advises to treat coronavirus 'like the flu'

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that a widespread U.S. outbreak of the new respiratory virus sweeping the globe isn't inevitable even as top health authorities at his side warned Americans that more infections are coming.

Shortly after Trump spoke, the government announced a worrisome development: another person in the U.S. is infected - someone in California who doesn't appear to have the usual risk factors of having traveled abroad or being exposed to another patient.

At a White House news conference, Trump sought to minimize fears as he insisted the U.S. is “very, very ready” for whatever the COVID-19 outbreak brings. Under fire about the government's response, he put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of coordinating the efforts.

Trump also advised Americans to treat the virus like the flu, frequently washing hands and avoiding contact. He told a story about a man he hadn't seen in a long time who he said came up to him, hugged him and kissed him before revealing that he had a fever and the flu. Trump said that he promptly excused himself so he could go wash his hands.