Wilbur Ross roasted for comments on US benefits from Coronavirus

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has faced harsh criticism after he suggested that the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China could be positive for the American economy.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Ross said he believed the coronavirus epidemic that has left millions under lockdown in China would help return jobs to the United States.

"I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America, some to [the] US, probably some to Mexico as well, that's a good point actually," the US secretary of commerce told Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo.

In response to a question whether the outbreak was a risk to the US economy, Ross said, "I don't want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate, very malignant disease."

"The fact is, it does give business yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain... So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America," he added.

The virus has so far killed 213 people and spread to at least 18 countries around the world, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases standing at 9,809.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared it an international public health emergency.

'Sick and heartless'

The remarks made by Ross were immediately censured, with Democrat congressman Don Beyer taking to Twitter to question seeking business advantages during the deadly outbreak.

Ross' suggestion that the US could enjoy the economic gains from the virus was also denounced by American journalist, author and talk radio host Michelangelo Signorile, who described the US secretary of commerce as "sick and heartless."

Jonathan Metzl, director of the Center for Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, also said in a tweet, "This is the kind of thing you say when you have no soul."

US warns citizens against travel to China as coronavirus toll tops 200

The United States warned Americans not to travel to China as the death toll from a new virus reached 213 on Friday.

Economists believe that the deadly virus could have a bigger impact on the global economy than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002 and 2003. SARS infected over 8,000 people, causing more than 700 deaths and is estimated to have cost the world economy more than 30 billion dollars.

The coronavirus has forced global companies including tech giants, car makers and retailers to temporarily shut down in China as authorities extended the Lunar New Year holiday and imposed major travel restrictions across the vast Asian country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk