HBO's Bill Maher William (Bill) MaherBill Maher to Joy Reid: 'Very nervous' about Biden's chances after GOP convention Bill Maher revives QAnon gag: 'I am Q' Oliver Stone, Bill Maher tangle on reliability of US intelligence on Russia: 'You think they're lying?' MORE on Friday jokingly abolished handshakes on his weekly "Real Time" program, opting instead to bow to guests amid the topic of coronavirus dominating the news cycle.

“Is this serious?” Maher asked in his opening monologue regarding coronavirus, or COVID-19. “Yeah, it is. The CDC is now calling it the COVID-19, and you know a disease is serious when they give it a rap name. But panic? No. We should not panic and it doesn’t merit panic.”

“We live in L.A.," Maher explained. "The air is so toxic that anything that comes out of anybody’s mouth is killed immediately.”

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"You just have to take more precautions right now," he added. "Just assume everyone is infectious, the same warning they give contestants on ‘The Bachelor.'”

Maher also went after President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE, arguing he is not taking the virus as seriously as he should.

“I wish we didn't have a president who thinks this coronavirus is a minor annoyance, like the common cold or the Constitution of the United States," Maher said. "One who appoints as the person to head up this massive medical emergency, [Vice President] Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceGOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick Pence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's rally risk | Biden ramps up legal team | Biden hits Trump over climate policy MORE, who doesn’t even believe in evolution.”

“No, we have a president who just keeps telling us crazy lies that contradict everything the CDC is saying,” the host added.

Maher also noted that stocks tanked last week in a drop not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, which he joked could impact billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations The Memo: 2020 is all about winning Florida The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support MORE, who has outspent all of his Democratic rivals combined despite getting into the race just three months ago.

“Bloomberg is not even sure anymore if he can buy the country,” Maher said.

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The commentary comes ahead of Saturday's South Carolina primary, where Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE is expected to win his first victory of the primary season.

Bloomberg, who opted not to compete in the first four voting states, will be on the ballot on Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states holding nominating contests.

Maher's remarks Friday came after Trump accused Democrats of politicizing coronavirus for political gain, calling their criticisms of his handling of the spreading virus "their new hoax."

"The Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus," Trump said at a rally in North Charleston, S.C.

"One of my people came up to me and said, 'Mr. President they tried to beat you on Russia, Russia, Russia. That didn't work out too well," the president continued. "They tried the impeachment hoax."

"This is their new hoax," he added.