WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus on Friday, unleashing billions of dollars in federal aid for state and local governments crippled by the fast-moving pandemic.
"I am officially declaring a national emergency _ two very big words," Trump said at a news conference in the White House Rose Garden. "The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion of very important, very important, and a large amount of money for states and territories and localities in our shared fight against the disease."
The declaration, Trump said, would provide the Department of Health and Human Services with "maximum flexibility" to waive regulations governing the nation's hospitals.
