US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in the state over the widely spreading Coronavirus. The virus originated in Wuhan, China and has been traveling to different parts of the world ever since. There are over 137,000 cases and over 5,000 deaths reported due to COVID-19. Declaring a public health emergency related to COVID-19, allows the US government to unlock money for antiviral drugs and other medical preparedness measures.
Trump told at a news conference in the White House lawn, “To unleash the full power of the federal government, I'm officially declaring a national emergency. The next eight weeks are critical. I'm also asking every hospital in this country to activate emergency preparedness plan to meet the needs of Americans everywhere. We'll remove or eliminate every obstacle necessary to deliver our people the care that they need and that they're entitled to. No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever.”
There are at least 2,028 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 48 coronavirus-related deaths, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, reports ABC News. (ALSO READ: BREAKING: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray Shuts Theatres, Malls All Over Mumbai And Other Parts Due To Coronavirus)
Trump also said that half a million additional tests were expected to be available early next week, with details on test locations to be announced Sunday night. He said he hoped another 1.4 million tests could be available next week, and five million within a month reports NDTV.
.@realDonaldTrump's emergency declaration allows for a "massive mobilization of our country's resources to combat this terrible virus. And the flexibilities we're offering will be a godsend to the providers, clinicians, and facilities on the front lines of this fight."– @SeemaCMS pic.twitter.com/YZ90CbPHXm
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) March 14, 2020
The @realDonaldTrump administration’s coronavirus response has delivered “innovative solutions…at unprecedented speed.” – Ambassador Deborah Birx pic.twitter.com/fI3TN3nsfv
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) March 13, 2020
Images Source: torontostar