With the ensuing coronavirus outbreak in the country, US President Donald Trump has called for national emergency. “To unleash the full power of the federal government I am officially declaring a national emergency,” President Trump said. Trump said the emergency declaration was “to unleash the full power of the federal government” and that up to $50 billion will be available to states and territories to meet the challenge.
The declaration came as the number of coronavirus cases in the US hit 1,800 with 41 deaths hitting all aspects of life from the economy and politics to education and entertainment.
Unlike in India, a state of emergency in the US does not involve limiting civil rights and it only paves the way for providing funds for dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus and for relaxing laws and regulations to speed up medical response.
Although Trump had criticised the relief package proposed by the Democratic Party during the news conference, he tweeted his support for it asserting it includes his “direction” for free coronavirus tests and paid sick leave. Pressed by a reporter who accused him of being “selfish” by not getting himself tested for the coronavirus after having been photographed in the company of someone who had come done with it, Trump said that he would undergo the test but would not say when or commit to making it public.
