As the coronavirus officially moves from an outbreak to a global pandemic, the Trump administration is pondering its next course of action.

People familiar with White House planning are considered a major address by President Donald Trump, to speak to the nation about coronavirus, either tonight or tomorrow. The president has received numerous criticisms for the national response to the coronavirus, a disease that has killed over 120,000 people globally.

“I think Trump should give a national television address tonight or tomorrow night and be the commander in chief and really lay out a set of prescriptions," a White House advisor told The Hill.

Early this afternoon Trump may have provided a glimpse into the content of such an address. “America is the Greatest Country in the world. We have the best scientists, doctors, nurses and health care professionals. They are amazing people who do phenomenal things every day,” he tweeted. “Together we are putting into policy a plan to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against CoronaVirus to save lives in America and the world. America will get it done!”

For weeks the administration has attempted to put on a happy face and avoid the perception of crisis. This is partially in service to the president’s need to be reelected in November.

But now the virus has grown to an extent where it cannot be brushed aside so easily. The United States has over one thousand infected people, a multitude of eight from the cases just one week ago. The disease is reaching an exponential growth path. And because testing is still so limited, the number of people who are already infected but are not yet aware is likely much higher. Thirty-two Americans have died. Coastal urban areas remain the most affected, with serious outbreaks in Washington state, the suburbs just north of New York City, and Washington D.C. and its surrounding area.

Entities outside of government channels are already taking precautions. The National Basketball Association announced that their game this week between Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets will be held without a live audience to prevent contagion. And even the Democratic National Committee announced that its planned primary debate on Sunday, between Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Vice President Joe Biden, will take place without an audience for the same reason.

A tweet later this afternoon seemed the mark how quickly the situation is getting serious. “I am fully prepared to use the full power of the Federal Government to deal with our current challenge of the CoronaVirus!” Trump said.

Yesterday the Italian government began implementation of its own rules of quarantine. The United States, however, has a population over five times that of Italy.

Hunter DeRensis is senior reporter for the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter @HunterDeRensis.

Image: Reuters.