Fox News
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to hold a press conference Friday afternoon to address the coronavirus crisis, as concerns over the spreading outbreak wreak havoc on the economy and American life.
Fox News is told the president is expected to declare a national emergency.
“I will be having a news conference today at 3:00 P.M., The White House. Topic: CoronaVirus!” he tweeted.
Declaring an emergency under the Stafford Act would allow Trump to mobilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and direct federal aid to states. Such a declaration would allow a state to request a 75 percent cost-share for expenses such as emergency workers, testing, medical supplies and vaccinations, Democrats reportedly had said in a letter sent to the president.
The announcement comes as major sporting and other events are called off or postponed, businesses across the country institute telework policies, government buildings and schools shutter and other disruptions rock the nation, amid efforts to curb the transmission of the virus. It also comes amid conflicting reports over whether another person who came in contact with Trump in recent days — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro — tested positive.
The president, on Wednesday night after the World Health Organization designated COVID-19 a global pandemic, announced a temporary halt on air travel to the United States from Europe, excluding flights from the United Kingdom and those carrying cargo, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the National Guard said it would deploy 1,000 troops in six states — Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island and Washington — by the end of the day Friday.
“As of this morning, about 400 Air and Army National Guard professionals in six states – Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island and Washington- are providing personnel in support of civil authority at the direction of their governors in response to COVID-19,” the National Guard said in a statement Friday. “At the national level, Guard members are training personnel on COVID-19 response, identifying and preparing National Guard facilities for use as isolation housing, and compiling state medical supply inventories.”
The statement noted that the National Guard’s “first priority is to protect our people while saving lives.”
“National Guard personnel will provide assistance to the states that include logistical support, disinfection/cleaning, activate/conduct transportation of medical personnel, call center support, and meal delivery,” the statement read.
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