Washington Post – March 22, 2020
Trump activates National Guard in New York, Washington
and California, states hit hardest by coronavirus
President Trump announced Sunday that the federal government has activated the National Guard to assist New York, California and Washington, three of the states hit hardest by the novel coronavirus. During Sunday’s task force briefing, Trump also appeared to make light of the news that Sen. Mitt Romney is self-quarantining because of his contact with Sen. Rand Paul.
Trump has already approved disaster declarations for New York and Washington. The declaration for California, which has been received recently, is expected to be approved soon, Trump said. Approving the request for aid will give the federal government easier access to provide supplies to the hardest-hit states.
Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, “the federal government will be funding 100 percent of the cost of deploying National Guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command," Trump said Sunday at the White House briefing.
Trump reiterated that the federal government will be a backup to the state, with governors continuing to be “in command.” The administration also emphasized that the deployment of the National Guard is not “martial law.”
In addition to sending the National Guard, officials said, the federal government will be sending eight large medical stations with 2,000 hospital beds to California, four large stations with 1,000 beds to New York, and three large federal medical stations and four small stations with 1,000 beds to Washington state.
Trump said that large amounts of respirators, N95 masks, gowns, face shields and other items are on the way to those three states. They are expected to be delivered in the next few days.
Two hospital ships, one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast, will also be activated, according to officials. The USNS Mercy will go to Los Angeles because of an expected shortage of hospital beds, while the USNS Comfort will be sent to New York.
Earlier Sunday it was announced that Paul (R-Ky.) has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the third member of Congress and the first senator to confirm infection. Sen. Mike Lee and Romney, both Utah Republicans, announced that they would self-quarantine because of their recent contact with Paul.
U.S. stock futures tanked when premarket trading began at 6 p.m. on Sunday, not long before Senate Democrats blocked a massive coronavirus stimulus bill from moving forward Sunday in the Senate.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has been placed under quarantine after a doctor who administered a vaccine to her on Friday tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Here are some significant developments:
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Sunday became the latest state leaders to announce statewide stay-at-home orders, which take effect Monday night. Ohio’s order lasts until April 6, while Louisiana’s extends until April 12.
New York state’s death toll has reached 114, surpassing Washington state and accounting for a third of all U.S. deaths.
Italy reported 651 new deaths and saw the lowest percentage increase in cases since the outbreak began.
Spain will extend its nationwide lockdown for 15 days, while the British government will tell 1.5 million people with serious health problems to self-quarantine for the next 12 weeks.
North Korea said Trump offered to help in the fight against coronavirus, while Lebanon called in the army to keep people indoors.
Opera singer Plácido Domingo tests positive.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/22/coronavirus-latest-news/
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
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