US President Donald Trump Declares Coronavirus a "National Emergency"

New Delhi, March 14, 2020:

US President Donald Trump has declared the Novel coronavirus as "national emergency" following the fast spreading nature of the virus to free up $50 billion in federal resources to combat the pandemic, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives so far.

The declaration came days after Trump became the subject of criticism for being too slow to act on the global health crisis even after several countries promptly going ahead with partial shutdown and suspension of visas.

to provide disaster funding, speed up the U.S. response to the crisis and offer "maximum flexibility" to attack the problem.

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He also shrugged off a question about whether he was responsible for the slow progress towards the expansion of coronavirus tests. He said, "I don't take responsibility at all," adding that it was the rules and regulations to be blamed for his inability to mass produce the testing kits.

Trump cautioned Americans that they would have to make sacrifices and adapt to changing lifestyle in the coming weeks as the situation could get worse. "It could get worse. The next eight weeks will be critical," he was quoted as saying.

In a tweet the US President said, "To those families and citizens who are worried and concerned for themselves and their loved ones, I want you to know that your Federal Government will unleash every authority, resource and tool at its disposal to safeguard the lives and health of our people."

He also informed the mediapersons gathered at a rose garden that the "coronavirus task force" would aid in combating the disease. Trump had held a meeting with the task force and his business executives before informing about the national emergency.

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The US President further said that he would soon be tested for the virus after a Brazilian official he met last Saturday tested positive for coronavirus. It may be mentioned here that confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US has reached 1,700.

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