The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield said Tuesday that it was wrong to refer to the novel coronavirus as a "Chinese coronavirus," breaking with a slew of GOP lawmakers who have attached the label to the deadly disease.

Redfield made the comments during a congressional hearing after being asked about the use of the term by Rep. Lois Frankel Lois Jane FrankelShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Florida Democrat introduces bill to recognize Puerto Rico statehood referendum Hillicon Valley: Democrats demand answers over Russian interference bulletin | Google Cloud wins defense contract for cancer research | Cyberattack disrupts virtual classes MORE (D-Fla.).

"I’m sure you would agree with this. You said this virus is expansive in Italy, in South Korea, and now the United States. It’s absolutely wrong and inappropriate to call this the Chinese coronavirus?" Frankel asked. "I assume you would agree with that."

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Redfield replied "yes," noting that the first phase of the coronavirus outbreak was in China but that it has since severely impacted countries such as South Korea, Italy and China.

Several GOP lawmakers have recently referred to the disease as the “Chinese virus” or “Wuhan virus” while addressing its outbreak domestically and abroad. Wuhan is the central Chinese city where the virus first appeared in December. The virus has since spread to more than 50 countries and infected more than 118,000 people, with the highest number of cases being reported in China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

The U.S. had confirmed 959 cases of the virus as of Tuesday evening, according to a John's Hopkins University database.

Going up fast. We need the Wall more than ever! https://t.co/7TxErJKAgT — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2020

President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE on Tuesday shared a tweet from a conservative activist saying that the "China virus" was reason for the U.S. to build a wall along the southern border. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyTrump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat House GOP leader says he trusts Trump over CDC director on vaccine timing The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks MORE (Calif.) and Sen. Rick Scott (D-Fla.) have also referenced the "Chinese coronavirus" in statements providing information about the disease's impact.

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Rep. Paul Gosar Paul Anthony GosarPelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership LWCF modernization: Restoring the promise Trump tweets his people have all left Drudge MORE (R-Ariz.) referred to the disease as the "Wuhan virus" while announcing that he would go under self-quarantine after interacting with someone who later tested positive for it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE has used the label as well.

Several Democratic lawmakers have slammed the use of the term as racist and xenophobic considering the virus's global spread. Gosar dismissed the backlash earlier this week, calling it "astoundingly ignorant" and claiming that “major media” had also described the virus that way.

The Hill published two stories in January that labeled the disease as the "Chinese virus" in the headline, although the term was used before the virus's outbreak spread. The Asian American Journalists Association noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has discouraged applying geographic locations to the names of illnesses because it could "stigmatize" people living there.

Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), the vice chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement that she was "shocked and dismayed that the GOP Leader in the House of Representatives" would use the term "Chinese coronavirus."

“This labeling of the illness is embarrassing, disrespectful, offensive, and downright disgusting. It is shameful," she said. "Wrongly inserting ‘Chinese’ into the name of this disease only reinforces the disparaging and negative stereotypes of Asian Americans.”

Meng and the leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Native American Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus have also called for McCarthy and Gosar to apologize.