U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Today, I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words,” he told reporters outside the White House Rose Garden Friday.
The action clears the way for up to $50 billion of support to be provided to local and state governments, he said.
Trump also ordered each state to set up emergency operations centres and each hospital to activate its emergency preparedness plan.
Trump announced a new public-private partnership to expand coronavirus testing capabilities, as his administration has come under fire for being too slow in making the test available.
-
![]()
Coronavirus outbreak: Trump says he’s ordered Strategic Petroleum Reserve filled ‘right to the top’ -
![]()
Coronavirus outbreak: Trump administration working with Google on drive-thru testing -
![]()
Coronavirus outbreak: Donald Trump declares national emergency over COVID-19 -
![]()
Coronavirus outbreak: Trump says he will ‘most likely’ be tested for COVID-19
The partnership will include drive-thru testing in some locations and an online portal to screen those seeking to get tested.
- Epstein files fallout: People who’ve resigned or been fired after DOJ release
- Inuit look to Greenland’s social model as Canada pursues military buildup in Arctic
- White House says tariff rollback reports ‘speculation’ unless announced
- Europe looks to boost its security, urges U.S. to ‘repair and revive trust’
-
![]()
Global News at 6:00 Toronto: February. 13, 2026 -
![]()
Russian drone strike kills one as Ukrainian official urges Europe to “prepare yourself” for war -
![]()
‘A world disorder’: European leaders call for increased defence spending amid geopolitical shift -
![]()
Ukraine’s Heraskevych disqualified from Olympics over skeleton helmet
Alex Azar, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, has been granted additional authority, Trump said.
Get breaking National news
He’ll be able to waive parts of laws and regulations to give health-care providers and hospitals “maximum flexibility to respond to the virus and to care for patients,” Trump said.
He also said Washington would be waiving the interest on federal student loans and purchasing strategic reserves of oil.
Congress has already approved a US$8.3-billion package to fight COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
There are more than 1,700 cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
–With files from the Associated Press
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.