U.S. declares “national emergency” over COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has announced that he is officially declaring a national emergency over the new coronavirus.

The president spoke at a Rose Garden press conference and said no resource will be spared in responding to the virus. He says that the declaration will free up nearly $50 billion to help the states and cities.

Trump says he is also asking every hospital in the U.S. to activate their emergency preparedness plan.

He is facing growing criticism about his mixed messages on the severity of the outbreak and over the administration’s scattershot response.