Trump ally reprimands president for coronavirus comments and tells him to 'listen to the scientists'

Senator Lindsey Graham says that he would encourage the president 'to make sure the science is behind what he's saying'

Senator Lindsey Graham has sided with science over President Donald Trump's "hunch" contradicting the World Health Organisation's (WHO) coronavirus mortality rate figures.

"I listen to the scientists when it comes to the numbers, and I would encourage the president, if he's going to report things, to make sure the science is behind what he's saying."

The president denied the official global death rate for coronavirus reported by health experts because he has a “hunch” it is lower.

Describing the global death rate figure of 3.4 per cent given by the WHO on Tuesday as a “false number” in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Mr Trump also gave medical advice which contradicts public health experts.

Mr Trump suggested there could be hundreds of thousands of people who would recover from the virus “just by sitting around” and suggested some people would be able to go to work even if they are infected.

On Sunday, the WHO said that most patients (80 per cent) have experienced mild illness from coronavirus, while approximately 14 per cent experienced severe disease and 5 per cent became critically ill.

However, those who have caught the virus are not recommended to go to work and have been told to self-isolate to prevent further spreading from the outbreaks.

Congress is in the process of passing $8.3bn in emergency funding to counter the spread of the virus.

The latest reports indicate at least 160 cases have been confirmed in at least 17 states across the country. The death toll stands at 11.