U.S. President Donald Trump declared a National Emergency on March 14 (Singapore time), allowing the federal government to tap into US$50 billion in emergency funding to help contain the Covid-19 spread.
The Department of Health and Human Services will also waive certain regulations and laws to allow healthcare workers to test and care for patients with the virus more quickly.
Trump said that the White House was working with several private healthcare companies to make more tests available.
Pharmacies and retailers will be able to provide drive-through tests where people can pull up in their vehicles and get swabbed without having to leave their seats, similar to measures implemented by South Korea.
Trump said that 1,700 engineers at Google are working to develop a website where people can determine whether a test is warranted, and facilitate a test at a location close to them.
Trump added: “No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever.”
However, Trump emphasised at multiple points in his speech that the tests will only be available to people who display “certain symptoms”.
“But we don’t want people to take a test if we feel they shouldn’t be doing it. We don’t want everyone running out and taking (a test), only if you have certain symptoms.”
He added that five million tests will be available within a month, but said that he doubted they would need “anywhere near” that number.
The U.S. as of March 13 (Singapore time) has over 1,800 confirmed cases of the virus, with 41 deaths.
While taking questions from the media regarding a meeting he had with Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his staff, Trump said that he has “no symptoms” and that Bolsonaro tested negative for the virus.
H/T NBC livestream, Politico livestream.
Top image from NBC YouTube channel.
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