U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at Democrats who have criticized his administration's handling of the coronavirus spread, a deadly disease that has claimed lives of over 2,800 people.

"They tried the impeachment hoax... This is their new hoax," Trump said at a rally in South Carolina.

As of Saturday, the U.S. has confirmed 64 cases, three of which are from an unknown origin. According to local media reports, these patients are believed to have not traveled overseas or come into close contact with anyone with the virus, meaning that it may be spreading undetected in local communities.

Democrats have denounced the Trump administration for acting not fast enough, and by extension, the funding requested in defending against the virus – 2.5 billion U.S. dollars – is not enough. They have signaled that they will substantially provide more.

"They have no clue. They don't have a clue. They can't even count their votes in Iowa," Trump said, referring to technical problems that plagued the Democratic vote in the Iowa caucuses on February 3.

The U.S. president argued that the measures he has taken so far have kept cases to a minimum, although he acknowledged that the virus could lead to future deaths.

"We're totally prepared," Trump said.