Trump deploys National Guard to 3 states over COVID-19

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has activated the National Guard to help New York, California and Washington state in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, where more than 240 people alone have died from the disease.

"Today, I am announcing action to help New York, California and Washington ensure that the National Guard can effectively respond to this crisis," Trump said at a news briefing at the White House.

He said the three states have been "hit the hardest," adding: "We’re dealing also with other states."

The president said the federal government will fund 100% of the cost of deploying national guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus.

The governors will be in command and the administration will be following them, said Trump, adding he spoke with the states’ leaders on the action and noted "they're very happy with what we're going to be doing."

"This action would give them the maximum flexibility to use the Guard against the virus without having to worry about costs and liability," he said. "And it frees up state resources to protect the health and safety of the people in their state."

The president also said the federal government has deployed hundreds of tons of supplies from national stockpiles to locations "with the greatest need in order to assist in those areas."

The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, emerged in Wuhan, China last December and has spread to at least 169 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

There are more than 335,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with the death toll over 14,600, while nearly 98,000 have recovered.

The virus has infected more than 33,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 417, including 117 in New York, 95 in Washington state and 30 in California.