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WHO Says Coronavirus Has Pandemic Potential. Here’s What That Means

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 25: In this handout image provided by South Korean Presidential Blue House, South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) talks to a president of Daegu Medical Center, You Wan-sik (R) at the Daegu Medical Center on February 25, 2020 in Daegu, South Korea. Government has raised the coronavirus alert to the "highest level" as confirmed case numbers keep rising. Government reported 144 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of infections in the nation to 977, with the potentially fatal illness spreading fast across the country. (Photo by South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images)
Handout
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) talks to a president of Daegu Medical Center, You Wan-sik (R) at the Daegu Medical Center on February 25, 2020 in Daegu, South Korea.

Yesterday, it was reported that the White House is readying an urgent budget request to address the coronavirus outbreak.

Yesterday, it was reported that the White House is readying an urgent budget request to address the coronavirus outbreak.

Part of that money is needed to reimburse the Pentagon, which is housing quarantined evacuees from China, at military bases here in California. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has declined to declare the outbreak a pandemic, but said that it has “pandemic potential.”

We get the latest and what it means for us in Southern California. 

With files from the Associated Press. 

With guest host John Rabe

Guests:

Emily Baumgaertner, medical investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets

Anne Rimoin, professor of epidemiology at UCLA; she tweets

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

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