US President Donald Trump declared a “national emergency” today due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the action would “open up access to up to $50 billion,” which he described as “a large amount of money for states and territories and localities in our shared fight against this disease.”
Trump also urged states to set up emergency operation centers immediately.
Additional measures: Trump announced new measures aimed at easing the burden of student loans as universities and colleges shut across the US, as well as measures aimed at taking advantage of low oil prices.
Travel restrictions: Trump’s travel ban, affecting 26 European countries, starts today. He announced on Thursday that the US was suspending travel from countries including France, Italy and other virus-hit nations for 30 days. Trump said today that he’s considering adding the UK to the restrictions, and he could take others off the list.
Getting tested: Asked why he hadn’t been tested for coronavirus after coming into contact with an infected patient, Trump said: “I didn’t say I wasn’t going to be tested.”
He added that “most likely” he’ll get tested but didn’t say when.