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CDC Director Anthony Fauci said that since a potential vaccine would take a year and a half to develop, in order to contain the virus in the short term, the focus had to remain on public health measures.

Anne Schuchat, the CDC's principal deputy director, encouraged people to prepare.

\"We do expect more cases and this is a good time to prepare. As you heard, it's the perfect time for businesses, health care systems, universities and schools, to look at their pandemic preparedness plans, dust them off and make sure they are ready and we have lots more information at the CDC's website and in partnership on how to do that,\" she said during Wednesday's news conference.

She also suggested Americans cover their mouths when they cough, stay home when they're sick and wash their hands.

Fears about the coronavirus' global spread have rocked markets around the world, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging Monday and Tuesday, and dropping to a lesser degree on Wednesday.

Trump acknowledged coronavirus had played a role, but he also said investors' fears of a Democrat winning the presidency this year had contributed, too.

He specifically pointed to concern over remarks by the Democratic presidential candidates at a debate Tuesday night, when they criticized Trump's handling of the response to the virus. He said comments by the candidates, who he called \"Democrat fools,\" had made \"a huge effect\" on markets.

But the largest drops in the Dow Jones came before the debate -- and the decrease on Wednesday, after the debate, was significantly smaller.

Trying to allay further economic woes, which could threaten his re-election in November, Trump promised the spread would not last forever -- a claim not directly backed up by health officials.

\"This is going to end,\" Trump said. \"Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.\"

\"PHOTO:
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
PHOTO: Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Feb.26, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
>

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have questioned Trump's top advisers this week on whether the administration was doing enough almost two months into the global crisis, expressing deep skepticism of the president's claims that the situation was \"under control.\"

\"That is a remarkable level of containment here in the United States,\" Azar told reporters at a press conference earlier Tuesday, later adding that \"we are realistic\" there would be more cases.

Azar, in a second day of testimony before the House Appropriations, called the community transmission of the virus in other nations \"concerning.\"

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., said to Azar point-blank, \"Provide me some security that someone knows what's going on in this administration about the coronavirus.\"

Azar responded, \"The risk right now is very low to Americans.\"

After HHS Sec. Alex Azar says he doesn't currently anticipate a czar to be appointed to coordinate the government's coronavirus response, Rep. Mark Pocan says, \"That's good. Jared Kushner will have more free time, then.\" https://t.co/c8NVaoA7h7 pic.twitter.com/8gvwtTq52U

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 26, 2020

\"We have always been clear that number one that could change rapidly, and from the outset I and the public health experts said we fully expect we will see more cases here in the United States,\" he continued. \"We have to be mentally prepared and also as a government prepared.\"

Later, when Pocan asked about a Politico report that the White House is considering appointing a coronavirus czar, Azar, after first saying he wouldn't comment, then said he didn't expect one now or in the near future.

\"I don't anticipate one. This is working extremely well.\" he said, referring to how he and HHS are leading the administration's efforts. \"If it doesn't work or if there's a need for change ... then that would be for the president to decide.\"

ABC News' Trish Turner, Jordyn Phelps, Anne Flaherty, Elizabeth Thomas and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.

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