Former US president Barack Obama called Wednesday for people to take "common sense precautions" over the coronavirus outbreak -- advising them to follow hand-washing guidelines but not to wear masks.
"Save the masks for health care workers. Let's stay calm, listen to the experts, and follow the science," tweeted Obama, who has kept a low public profile since leaving office in 2017.
He said people should keep track of updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- and stay home if they are sick.
The World Health Organization has said masks, goggles and other protective equipment used by health workers were in short supply due to "rising demand, hoarding and misuse."
The death toll in the US from the virus rose to 11 on Wednesday, as lawmakers in Congress reached a deal to provide more than $8 billion to fight the outbreak.
Nationwide, more than 130 people have so far been infected, with the virus detected in more than a dozen states.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
From FLiRT To FLuQE: What To Know About The Latest Covid Variants Covid Still Kills 1,700 A Week Around World: WHO "Bad Debate Nights Happen": Obama's Feeble Support For Ex-Veep Biden World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Puja Khedkar's Mother Was Hiding In Lodge As "Indubai" Using Fake ID At Least 2 Passengers Die As Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails In UP Infosys Posts 7% Increase In Q1 Net Profit At Rs 6,386 Crore Watch: Rescue Teams Crawl Through Derailed Coaches Looking For Survivors Delhi Court Refers BRS leader K Kavitha To AIIMS For Medical Check-Up Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.