Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump confirmed he's planning to bar entry to migrants illegally crossing the US southern border, including those seeking asylum, in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"The answer's yes," Trump said at the White House when asked if he was planning to take that step, which he said would come "very soon," adding "probably today."

CNN reported on Tuesday that officials are working on a plan to deny entry to all asylum seekers. That may include a plan to return all illegal border crossers without due process.

Trump said he wasn't planning to close the southern border but "we are invoking a certain provision that will allow us great latitude as to what we do." The administration appears to be referring to a US code that allows the surgeon general to prohibit entry to people who pose a risk of introducing a communicable disease into the US.

The United States has more coronavirus cases than its neighbors to the south.

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