National emergency! US Prez to open access to $ 50 bn in shared fight against Corona
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Washington, March 14: After the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus as a pandemic and the death toll continues to rise, US President Donald Trump on Friday announced national emergency, freeing up $50 billion in federal funds for the battle against the coronavirus pandemic as he vowed to vastly ramp up testing capacity.
“I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words,” Trump declared. “The action I am taking will open up access to up to 50 billion dollars in our shared fight against this disease.”
“Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus,” he added. “. . . No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever.” He revealed that tests will be available “in the millions” in the coming weeks, but said, “we don’t want everyone running out and taking [tests].”
President Trump said the US will scale up to make at least half-million additional tests available by early next week while 5 million tests available within a month. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, later announced that CDC’s past testing regulation has been revised to accommodate widespread screening.
.@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
More than 25 states and Washington, D.C., have made emergency orders over the past two weeks, as state governors have taken measures to combat the virus’s spread. President Trump also announced other measures including waiving off interest on student loans as universities and colleges across the country shut their doors in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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
"I've waived interest on all student loans held by federal government agencies, and that will be until further notice," President Trump announced. A Department of Education spokesperson said that under the new policy, any borrower with a federal loan, including those in income-driven repayment and forbearance, will have interest waived until the temporary policy ends.
The virus that emerged in central China in December has now spread to over 130 countries and territories and infected more than 138,000 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. It has so far led to 47 U.S. deaths after six more were reported on Friday in hard-hit Washington state and one in Colorado.