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| Coronavirus: Trump puts US on war footing to combat outbreak | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Describing himself as a "wartime president", President Donald Trump has vowed the US will achieve "total victory" over the coronavirus. | Describing himself as a "wartime president", President Donald Trump has vowed the US will achieve "total victory" over the coronavirus. |
| He spoke as he revived a Korean War-era measure allowing the US to ramp up production of vital medical supplies. | He spoke as he revived a Korean War-era measure allowing the US to ramp up production of vital medical supplies. |
| Two lawmakers meanwhile became the first members of Congress to test positive for the infection. | Two lawmakers meanwhile became the first members of Congress to test positive for the infection. |
| The US has more than 9,000 cases of Covid-19 and has seen 145 deaths so far. | |
| Globally there are more than 200,000 confirmed cases and over 8,700 deaths. | Globally there are more than 200,000 confirmed cases and over 8,700 deaths. |
| What did President Trump say? | What did President Trump say? |
| At a White House press conference, the president was asked by a reporter whether he considered the country to be on a war footing in terms of fighting the virus. | At a White House press conference, the president was asked by a reporter whether he considered the country to be on a war footing in terms of fighting the virus. |
| "It's a war," he said. "I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. Mr Trump has been holding daily briefings on the emergency this week since being accused of playing down the outbreak in its early stages. | "It's a war," he said. "I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. Mr Trump has been holding daily briefings on the emergency this week since being accused of playing down the outbreak in its early stages. |
| He said: "We must sacrifice together, because we are all in this together, and we will come through together. It's the invisible enemy. That's always the toughest enemy. | He said: "We must sacrifice together, because we are all in this together, and we will come through together. It's the invisible enemy. That's always the toughest enemy. |
| "But we are going to defeat the invisible enemy. I think we are going to do it even faster than we thought, and it'll be a complete victory. It'll be a total victory." | "But we are going to defeat the invisible enemy. I think we are going to do it even faster than we thought, and it'll be a complete victory. It'll be a total victory." |
| Mr Trump announced he was signing the 1950 Defense Production Act, which empowers the president to direct civilian businesses to help meet orders for products necessary for national security. | Mr Trump announced he was signing the 1950 Defense Production Act, which empowers the president to direct civilian businesses to help meet orders for products necessary for national security. |
| He later said on Twitter he would only invoke the measure "in a worst case scenario in the future". | He later said on Twitter he would only invoke the measure "in a worst case scenario in the future". |
| Mr Trump also described as an "absolute, total worst case scenario" a warning by his Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, that the pandemic could send US unemployment rocketing to 20%. | Mr Trump also described as an "absolute, total worst case scenario" a warning by his Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, that the pandemic could send US unemployment rocketing to 20%. |
| The president said two US Navy hospitals ships would be pressed into service to help alleviate an expected shortage of sick beds. | The president said two US Navy hospitals ships would be pressed into service to help alleviate an expected shortage of sick beds. |
| The USNS Comfort is expected to be sent to New York Harbor, though defence officials said it is currently undergoing maintenance in Virginia. | The USNS Comfort is expected to be sent to New York Harbor, though defence officials said it is currently undergoing maintenance in Virginia. |
| The other vessel, USNS Mercy, is being prepared to deploy to a location on the West Coast. | The other vessel, USNS Mercy, is being prepared to deploy to a location on the West Coast. |
| During the press conference, Mr Trump again rejected suggestions that his use of the term "Chinese virus" to describe Covid-19 was racist. | During the press conference, Mr Trump again rejected suggestions that his use of the term "Chinese virus" to describe Covid-19 was racist. |
| Earlier in the day the US-Canada border, the world's longest, was effectively closed, except for essential travel and commerce. | Earlier in the day the US-Canada border, the world's longest, was effectively closed, except for essential travel and commerce. |
| Mr Trump also said his administration would launch a new crackdown on migrants or asylum seekers crossing the US-Mexico border by invoking a statute allowing people from certain countries to be blocked in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. | Mr Trump also said his administration would launch a new crackdown on migrants or asylum seekers crossing the US-Mexico border by invoking a statute allowing people from certain countries to be blocked in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. |
| Which congressmen have coronavirus? | Which congressmen have coronavirus? |
| The office of Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat, said on Wednesday evening he had tested positive for the virus. | The office of Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat, said on Wednesday evening he had tested positive for the virus. |
| The 45-year-old said he developed "mild cold-like symptoms" after returning from Washington DC on Saturday evening. | The 45-year-old said he developed "mild cold-like symptoms" after returning from Washington DC on Saturday evening. |
| Mr McAdams said he immediately self-isolated at home, but "my symptoms got worse and I developed a fever, a dry cough and laboured breathing". | Mr McAdams said he immediately self-isolated at home, but "my symptoms got worse and I developed a fever, a dry cough and laboured breathing". |
| His doctor referred him on Tuesday for a Covid-19 test, which came back positive on Wednesday, according to the statement. | His doctor referred him on Tuesday for a Covid-19 test, which came back positive on Wednesday, according to the statement. |
| The representative said he would remain in self-quarantine until he had recovered. | The representative said he would remain in self-quarantine until he had recovered. |
| Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, also announced on Wednesday he had tested positive for coronavirus. | Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, also announced on Wednesday he had tested positive for coronavirus. |
| "I'm feeling much better. However, it's important that everyone take this seriously," the 58-year-old tweeted from self-quarantine at his flat in Washington DC. | "I'm feeling much better. However, it's important that everyone take this seriously," the 58-year-old tweeted from self-quarantine at his flat in Washington DC. |
| Mr Balart said he did not plan to return to Florida, noting his wife, Tia, has underlying conditions "that put her at exceptionally high risk". | Mr Balart said he did not plan to return to Florida, noting his wife, Tia, has underlying conditions "that put her at exceptionally high risk". |
| The news will likely send a shiver through Congress, which has many elderly members. | The news will likely send a shiver through Congress, which has many elderly members. |
| Its representatives and senators are usually eager to shake hands with the aides, colleagues, constituents and lobbyists they encounter daily. | Its representatives and senators are usually eager to shake hands with the aides, colleagues, constituents and lobbyists they encounter daily. |
| They also often find themselves at close quarters with each other while riding the dedicated subway beneath the Capitol complex. | They also often find themselves at close quarters with each other while riding the dedicated subway beneath the Capitol complex. |
| What is Congress doing to combat coronavirus? | What is Congress doing to combat coronavirus? |
| On Wednesday, the president signed a coronavirus relief package passed earlier in the day overwhelmingly by the US Senate 90-8. | On Wednesday, the president signed a coronavirus relief package passed earlier in the day overwhelmingly by the US Senate 90-8. |
| The bill provides free virus testing and paid sick, family and medical leave for workers at companies with 500 employees or fewer, as well as expanded funding for food welfare. | The bill provides free virus testing and paid sick, family and medical leave for workers at companies with 500 employees or fewer, as well as expanded funding for food welfare. |
| It is estimated the sick leave and family leave provisions of the bill alone will cost $105bn (£90bn). | It is estimated the sick leave and family leave provisions of the bill alone will cost $105bn (£90bn). |
| The White House and Congress are also discussing additional coronavirus economic stimulus measures that could cost up to $1.3tn. | The White House and Congress are also discussing additional coronavirus economic stimulus measures that could cost up to $1.3tn. |
| That package could include two rounds of direct payments of up to $1,000 to Americans to encourage spending. | That package could include two rounds of direct payments of up to $1,000 to Americans to encourage spending. |
| Despite efforts to sustain the economy, the Dow Jones plummeted again on Wednesday erasing nearly all the gains that it had made since Mr Trump took office. | Despite efforts to sustain the economy, the Dow Jones plummeted again on Wednesday erasing nearly all the gains that it had made since Mr Trump took office. |
| How is this crisis affecting you? Tell us using the form below. | How is this crisis affecting you? Tell us using the form below. |