President Trump declares a coronavirus national emergency yesterday. This opens the door to providing about $50 billion in federal aid to fight the disease. The president made the announcement at a Rose Garden news conference. He is battling to show Americans he is aggressively addressing the virus. The president said he this move is to unleash the full power of the federal government. He urged every state to set up emergency centers to help fight the virus.
Coronavirus emergency declaration
In his own words: https://youtu.be/q_WM_pMp0Hg
Pressure has been mounting to declare an infectious disease emergency. This utilizes the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Passed in1988, the law allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide disaster funds to state and local governments. It also allows deployment of support teams. The power is rarely used. A former President declared such an emergency for West Nile virus in 2000.
“To unleash the full power of the federal government in this effort today, I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words. The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion – a very important and a large amount for states and territories or localities in our shared fight against this disease,” the President said.
In his address Trump said the federal government was partnering with the private sector to accelerate production of test kits to make them more widely available to Americans. He said there will be about 5 million coronavirus tests available but doubted that many will be needed. He urged Americans to only seek out the test if they feel they need it.
Responding and asking cooperation of individuals, localities and states
“We don’t want people to take a test if we feel that they shouldn’t be doing it and we don’t want everyone running out and taking – only if you have certain symptoms,” the President said.
Alongside Trump was Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Health expert who is on Trump’s coronavirus task force. “We still have a long way to go. There will be many more cases. But we’ll take care of that,” said Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert. “What’s going on here today is going to help it end sooner than it would have.” President Trump declares a coronavirus national emergency yesterday to galvanize national efforts.