Democratic presidential hopeful former US vice president Joe Biden participates in the 11th Democratic Party 2020 presidential debate in a CNN Washington Bureau studio in Washington, DC on March 15, 2020. (AFP photo)

Former US Vice President Joe Biden has said he would mobilize the military to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, adding that it is a "national emergency" that requires the United States to react on a war footing.

"I would call out the military now," Biden said on Sunday night at the Democratic presidential debate in Washington, DC. "They have the ability to provide this surge that hospitals need. ... They have the capacity to build 500 hospital beds and tents that are completely safe and secure. It�s a national emergency, and I would call out the military."

"We�re at war with the virus," Biden added.

Meanwhile, leading Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he would mobilize the National Guard to address the coronavirus crisis.

"We use all of the tools that make sense," Sanders said. "And using the National Guard ... that has to be done."

Sanders also highlighted the need to "shut this president up right now" in the fight with the coronavirus.

US President Donald Trump has called on Americans to stop hoarding food in panic over the coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus is inspiring panic buying of a variety of household products in the United States with shelves of nonperishable foods, household cleaners and essentials cleared in stores.

There are now 3,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US and at least 69 people have died so far, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Johns Hopkins University.

American schools have been closed and millions of jobs are in jeopardy as businesses temporarily closed down.

On Sunday, the CDC said events with gatherings of 50 or more people over the next eight weeks should be postponed or canceled.

Trump declared a national emergency over the virus on Friday, freeing up additional resources and federal funding of about $50 billion to fight the disease.

The US president has also imposed restrictions on travelers from China, Iran, the Schengen Area the European countries as well as the UK and Ireland.

SOURCE: PRESS TV

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/14741

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