Fox News Today: The Coronavirus Crisis - Trump pulls WHO funding over coronavirus response, and a global battle erupts

Global battle erupts as Trump pulls WHO funding over coronavirus response

President Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization amid the coronavirus crisis touched off an international war of words overnight as Democratic lawmakers in Washington as well as international bodies like the European Union condemned the move.
 
The global tally for confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 2 million on Wednesday, just four months after it was first detected in China.
 
Stocks tumbled Wednesday amid historic declines in retail sales, manufacturing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 553 points, or 2.3 percent, in the opening minutes of trading while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. warned that the release of inmates with substance abuse, domestic violence, mental illness and homelessness issues would pose a greater risk of coronavirus infection in the community.
 
Allen Harim Foods, a Delaware-based chicken company, will “depopulate” up to 2 million eggs due to coronavirus-related staffing shortages at its processing plant.

And there were several other developments:

Bill Gates slams Trump's decision to halt WHO funding: 'As dangerous as it sounds.'

An AP investigation found China held off warning of pandemic for nearly a week

President Trump's name will appear on millions of economic stimulus checks sent to Americans as part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by the president last month.

The governor of Illinois is engaged in secret talks with China to obtain masks and gloves for the state’s medical workers fighting the coronavirus, hoping to avoid scrutiny by the Trump administration, according to reports.

COVID-19 patients may be contagious 2 to 3 days before symptoms show, research warns 

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COPING WITH CORONAVIRUS
Stay up to date with the latest news at CORONAVIRUSNOW.COM Coronavirus: The latest on everything you need to know Check out the White House's new extended guidelines on coronavirus State-by-state breakdown How to safely go grocery shopping during the crisis How to help your mental health Fox News Today: The Coronavirus Crisis is compiled by Fox News' Carolyn Salazar and Fox News Digital team.