Donald Trump has reportedly been “melting down” over coronavirus and fears journalists might try to deliberately get the disease in order to pass it on to him.

The president has repeatedly tried to downplay concerns about Covid-19 in recent weeks as his administration has struggled to manage the US outbreak and its effect on global stock markets.

In public, his administration has insisted the virus is under control, with the president comparing it to seasonal flu outbreaks and dismissing alarming media reports.

However, Mr Trump is said to be privately terrified about getting the virus himself, according to sources who spoke to Vanity Fair.

One source told the magazine Mr Trump’s fears about the virus have led him to tell aides he is afraid journalists might try to contract coronavirus so they can infect him on Air Force One.

“He’s definitely melting down over this,” the source, who is said to be close to the administration, said.

Mr Trump, who is a self-described germaphobe, has also reportedly asked for anyone with a cough to be barred from White House grounds.

The White House has been approached for comment on the claims but has not yet responded.

On Friday, the president gave a typically optimistic assessment of the outbreak during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta and boasted about his supposed “natural ability” for science.

“People are really surprised I understand this stuff,” he said.

“Every one of these doctors said: ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability.”

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Mr Trump also compared the virus to flu on Monday in a tweet which appeared to criticise quarantine measures that have been taken in other countries to prevent further spreading of the disease.

“So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on,” he wrote on Twitter.

“At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”

However, a source who said they spoke to the president over the weekend has argued that the scale of the challenge has now become clear to him.

“He’s just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesn’t know how to respond,” the source told Vanity Fair.

Late on Monday, the White House’s press secretary said Mr Trump had not yet been tested for coronavirus, despite the president having been in contact with a number of senior Republicans who have self-quarantined over the virus.

“The President has not received Covid-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed Covid-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms,” Stephanie Grisham said.

“President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him.”

Mr Trump shook hands with one congressman, Doug Collins, who has self-isolated over contact with a confirmed case, and rode on Air Force One with another, Matt Gaetz, on Monday.