US to push production of protective gear for coronavirus

[WASHINGTON] The United States will invoke a federal defence law to boost production of masks, gloves, gowns and other items to protect against the new coronavirus, the Trump administration said, as a new case of unknown origin was confirmed in California on Friday.

The latest US case was reported in Santa Clara county in California, home to the Silicon Valley technology hub. County health officials said it was a case of unknown origin, the second in the state so far out of 10 cases there.

At the same time more countries were reporting new infections, companies curtailed travel and global stock markets were on the precipice of a free fall.