The U.S. and other countries escalated their response to the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of confirmed infections world-wide topped 200,000, more than doubling in two weeks. President Trump said Wednesday the White House would be invoking the Defense Production Act, “just in case we need it.” That act, first passed during the Korean War, gives the president powers to require and incentivize businesses to produce goods tied to national defense.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 18, 2020 09:47 UTC