Dr. Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force, said parts of the country with few cases so far must prepare for what’s to come.

The urgently needed pandemic response measure is the largest economic rescue measure in history.

Trump has had repeated contact with lawmakers who were themselves exposed to people who later tested positive and chose to self-isolate out of an abundance of caution.

Combined with a fresh U.S. State Department advisory asking citizens to reconsider the need to travel globally, the move could create chaos at dozens of airports across Europe as passengers attempt a last-minute rush to fly to the United States before the ban takes effect.

The White House insistence on secrecy at the nation’s premier public health organization, which has not been previously disclosed, has put a lid on certain information — and potentially delayed the response to the crisis, sources said.

The travel restrictions will last for 30 days, Trump said, and will go into effect at midnight Friday.

Among other measures, officials were considering placing a “Level 3 Health Travel Notice” on the entire European Union and a natural disaster declaration.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he wasn’t concerned “at all” about the coronavirus getting closer to the White House.

The long-rumoured move makes Meadows effectively Trump's fourth chief of staff since taking office in 2017.

Two days after the White House abruptly shifted gears from President Donald Trump’s initial assurances of minimal U.S. fallout to an all-out mobilization under Vice President Mike Pence, the administration’s messaging still wasn’t completely seamless.