New York: President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the US is "very, very ready" for whatever the coronavirus threat brings, and he put his vice president in charge of overseeing the nation's response.

The announcement came as authorities in New York said voluntary quarantine protocols have been applied to about 700 people who returned to the city after travelling to areas affected by the coronavirus outbreak in China since February 3.

New York City. Credit:AP

The vast majority of the travellers who were quarantined were deemed at medium risk for the new coronavirus, called COVID-19, because of recent travel to mainland China, New York State Health Department officials said on late Tuesday.

The newly reported tally reflected travellers reviewed for potential voluntary quarantine outside New York City.