Trump, without giving details, said Thursday he had seen evidence the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source, appearing to echo speculation fuelled by US right-wing radio commentators about a secret lab.

Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the “wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.”

But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab.

“I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories.”

It’s unfair to blame China for coronavirus, says Lancet editor

Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to play down the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.”

“President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.”

US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China’s handling of the pandemic a centrepiece of his campaign for the November presidential election.

The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 66,000 and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless.

Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators – some armed – who have rallied against the restrictions.

There are signs the pandemic is slowing in some parts of the United States.

In New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline.

Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions.

Hard-hit Italy – which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 – is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside.