Elon Musk downplays coronavirus as Tesla factory stays open amid crisis

Tesla chief executive has used his massive platform to cast doubt upon the danger of the virus

Elon Musk has downplayed the severity of the coronavirus epidemic, tweeted false information about the disease's effect on children, and kept his northern California factory open despite a local "shelter-in-place" order, but the billionaire entrepreneur also says he's willing to help.

On Thursday, the Tesla chief executive inserted himself into the global conversation on the coronavirus crisis, tweeting that his companies "will make ventilators if there is a shortage".