Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recommended Sunday that elderly and vulnerable Americans limit their exposure to travel and large crowds as the world fights the coronavirus outbreak.

During an interview on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Fauci said that the elderly and those with "underlying conditions" are "overwhelmingly" more likely to have complications if they catch coronavirus.

"When I say protect, I mean right now," he said. "Not wait until things get worse. Say no large crowds, no long trips. And above all, don't get on a cruise ship."