See new Tweets
Conversation
The Independent
@Independent
White House officials ‘considering declaring national state of emergency’ over coronavirus
White House officials 'considering declaring national state of emergency' over coronavirus https://t.co/zvXtbaq5sH
— The Independent (@Independent) March 10, 2020
Coronavirus: White House officials ‘privately discussing declaration of national state of emergency
White House officials have privately discussed the possibility of declaring a national state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report.
Aides in Donald Trump’s administration have had preliminary talks about calling a national emergency, which would allow disaster-level action to be taken by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Washington Post reported.
It came after Mr Trump issued a flurry of tweets in an attempt to downplay the significance of coronavirus.
In one of more than a dozen posts on Monday, he said: “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year.
“Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”
#breaking in Rockland County, NY — Ramapo High School, Pomona Middle School and Hempstead Elementary School will be shut down through March 21 after three students tested positive for COVID-19. #abc7NY
— Derick Waller (@wallerABC7) March 10, 2020
NG