Trump Declares State of Emergency Because of Coronavirus

US President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency tonight at Dutch time because of the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

That will be announced at a press conference in the White House, two insiders say to news agency Bloomberg.

Trump would like to invoke the Stafford Act, a federal emergency law. For example, the federal government can provide more support to states and municipalities.

The President is under pressure to take more comprehensive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Democrats have called on him to make use of the Stafford Act.