U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will soon have more ventilators than it needs, and there will be enough to eventually send to other countries.

The president made the remarks at a daily briefing after many state governors complained they do not have enough ventilators to meet the urgent need. On the same day, the U.S. became the first nation with more than 200,000 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, according to updated figures from Johns Hopkins University. 

Asked to comment on claims that China, by shipping aid overseas, "is taking on a global leadership role" in the battle against COVID-19, Trump said if China is helping other countries, that is "positive." 

"We have 151 countries right now that are under siege by the virus," said Trump, adding that some of the countries "aren't highly sophisticated" in tackling the crisis. "If China can help them, I'm all for it," Trump said. "I would love China and other countries if they have additional supplies, medical supplies, to give to other countries." 

During the press conference, Trump also said he is considering a plan to halt flights to coronavirus hot zones in the country.

"We're certainly looking at it, but once you do that, you really are clamping down an industry that is desperately needed," Trump told a White House news briefing.

The U.S. authorities will evacuate passengers from a stranded cruise ship due to dock in Florida after being barred from several South American countries because of a coronavirus outbreak aboard. 

Trump said the country was "sending medical teams on board the ship" and taking people off, with foreigners being sent home. "We're taking the Canadians off and giving them to Canadian authorities," he said. "Same thing with the UK."

(With input from agencies)