to unleash the full power of the federal government that this effort today I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words. The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion of, very importantly, very important and a large amount of money for states and territories and localities and our shared fight against this disease in furtherance of the order emerging every state to set up emergency operation centers. Effective immediately, you're gonna be hearing from some of the largest companies and greatest retailers and medical companies in the world there, standing with behind me in the side of me. I'm also asking every hospital in this country to activate its emergency preparedness plan so that they can meet the needs of Americans everywhere. The hospital's Avery engaged. Emergency orders I'm issuing today will also confer broad new authority to the secretary of Health and Human Service. Is the secretary of HHS will be able to immediately wave revisions of applicability, laws and regulations to give doctors hospital, all hospitals and healthcare providers maximum flexibility to respond to the virus and care for patients. This includes the following critical authorities the ability to waive laws to enable telehealth a fairly new on and incredible thing that's happened. And if and the not so, uh distant past, I tell you, what they've done with telehealth is incredible. It gives remote doctor's visits and hospital check ins. The power to waive certain federal license requirements so that doctors from other states can provide service is and states with the greatest need the ability to waive requirements that critical access hospitals limit the number of beds to 25 and the length of stay to 96 hours. The ability to waive the requirements of a three day hospital stay prior to admission to a nursing home. Big thing. The authority to waive the rules to hinder hospital's ability to bring additional physicians on board or obtain needed office space they can do is they want they can do what they have to do, will remove or eliminate every obstacle necessary to deliver our people the care that they need and that they're entitled to. No resource will be spared. Nothing whatsoever
This week in coronavirus news
Updated: 3:49 PM CDT Mar 20, 2020
There are more than 132,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 123 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization. With more than 1,665 cases in the United States, at least 41 Americans have died from the virus, which was declared a pandemic by the WHO this week. Also this week, the White House, Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court temporarily closed public tours and major sports organizations suspended or delayed their seasons. Travel restrictions into the U.S. went into effect and major entertainment venues, including Broadway, Disneyland and Disney World, announced a halt in activities. On Friday, President Donald Trump held a press conference declaring the outbreak a national emergency. Here's a look at what's occurred this week as it relates to the coronavirus:Trump declares virus a national emergency Speaking before the nation, President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency. He urged every state to set up emergency centers to combat the virus. "Only the beginning," Trump described the declaration as. He then asked every hospital in the nation to activate its emergency preparedness plan. Trump conferred broad new authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Doctors and hospitals will have maximum flexibility to respond to the virus. Hospitals can now use telehealth, diagnosing patients over the phone, allowing for remote doctor's visits as well as allowing doctors from different states to diagnose patients.Hospitals can now waive requirements for limits on beds, keeping as many patients in their facilities as they feel they are able to. They also have no restrictions on space or rooms used to house patients, where previously there were restrictions on numbers of patients per room.Essentially, hospitals are free to respond to the virus in whatever way they see fit. "No resource will be sparred," Trump said.A new partnership with the private health sector to accelerate testing for the virus would be employed, though Trump insisted Americans not to overuse it.“We don't want people to take a test if we feel that they shouldn’t be doing it," he said. "And we don’t want everybody running out and taking — only if you have certain symptoms." Half a million new tests are expected by next week. Trump waived interest on all student loans held by the federal government "until further notice." Trump also issued drive-thru testing sites to be set up to make coronavirus tests available faster. People can get tests without leaving their vehicles.He instructed creating large reserves of oil for future use in case of shortages. America's responseBefore Trump's national emergency declaration, the stock market halted trading on two occasions, states across the country cancelled classes and a ban on all travel from Europe went into effect. The Grand Princess cruise ship, which housed 21 passengers who tested positive for COVID-19, also docked in Oakland, California this week, starting a 14-day quarantine for other passengers and crew members. The U.S. government also issued further guidance throughout the week. Notable casesSeveral notable figures confirmed this week that they had tested positive for coronavirus, including Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife. False informationMisinformation seems to be spreading nearly as quickly as the virus itself. This week, false narratives about COVID-19 continued to earn clicks across the internet. CancellationsFrom sports organizations to religious services, people are being encouraged to avoid large gatherings to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Many large companies also encouraged employees to work from home, made sick leave available or made modifications to normal operations. International effectsItaly put a nationwide lockdown in place this week, while China started to see signs the outbreak has begun to dissipate.Preparations beginPeople began stockpiling supplies, avoiding public places and monitoring possible symptoms this week as more information about the virus emerged. Helpful tipsFrom rescheduling planned travel to staying healthy, there are plenty of ways to navigate the evolving changes stemming from the spread of the coronavirus.
There are more than 132,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 123 countries and territories, according to the .
With more than 1,665 cases in the United States, at least 41 Americans have died from the virus, which was declared a pandemic by the WHO this week.
Also this week, the White House, Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court temporarily closed public tours and major sports organizations suspended or delayed their seasons. Travel restrictions into the U.S. went into effect and major entertainment venues, including Broadway, Disneyland and Disney World, announced a halt in activities.
On Friday, President Donald Trump held a press conference declaring the outbreak a national emergency.
Here's a look at what's occurred this week as it relates to the coronavirus:
Trump declares virus a national emergency
Speaking before the nation, President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency. He urged every state to set up emergency centers to combat the virus.
"Only the beginning," Trump described the declaration as. He then asked every hospital in the nation to activate its emergency preparedness plan.
Trump conferred broad new authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Doctors and hospitals will have maximum flexibility to respond to the virus. Hospitals can now use telehealth, diagnosing patients over the phone, allowing for remote doctor's visits as well as allowing doctors from different states to diagnose patients.
Hospitals can now waive requirements for limits on beds, keeping as many patients in their facilities as they feel they are able to. They also have no restrictions on space or rooms used to house patients, where previously there were restrictions on numbers of patients per room.
Essentially, hospitals are free to respond to the virus in whatever way they see fit. "No resource will be sparred," Trump said.
A new partnership with the private health sector to accelerate testing for the virus would be employed, though Trump insisted Americans not to overuse it.
“We don't want people to take a test if we feel that they shouldn’t be doing it," he said. "And we don’t want everybody running out and taking — only if you have certain symptoms."
Half a million new tests are expected by next week.
Trump waived interest on all student loans held by the federal government "until further notice."
Trump also issued drive-thru testing sites to be set up to make coronavirus tests available faster. People can get tests without leaving their vehicles.
He instructed creating large reserves of oil for future use in case of shortages.
America's response
Before Trump's national emergency declaration, the stock market halted trading on two occasions, states across the country cancelled classes and a ban on all travel from Europe went into effect.
The Grand Princess cruise ship, which housed 21 passengers who tested positive for COVID-19, also docked in Oakland, California this week, starting a 14-day quarantine for other passengers and crew members.
The U.S. government also issued further guidance throughout the week.
Notable cases
Several notable figures confirmed this week that they had tested positive for coronavirus, including Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife.
False information
Misinformation seems to be spreading nearly as quickly as the virus itself. This week, false narratives about COVID-19 continued to earn clicks across the internet.
Cancellations
From sports organizations to religious services, people are being encouraged to avoid large gatherings to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Many large companies also encouraged employees to work from home, made sick leave available or made modifications to normal operations.
International effects
Italy put a nationwide lockdown in place this week, while China started to see signs the outbreak has begun to dissipate.
Preparations begin
People began stockpiling supplies, avoiding public places and monitoring possible symptoms this week as more information about the virus emerged.
Helpful tips
From rescheduling planned travel to staying healthy, there are plenty of ways to navigate the evolving changes stemming from the spread of the coronavirus.