President Donald Trump announced last Wednesday that he has decided to invoke the Defense Production Act in an effort to handle the coronavirus pandemic and the effect it is projected to have on the U.S.
“It can do a lot of good things if we need it,” Trump said at a White House press conference. “We’ll have it all completed, signing it in just a little while.”
As of Thursday, the act had been signed by the president. Invoking the act allows the White House more freedom and also the authority to increase production of masks, ventilators and respirators, and also to expand hospital capacity as need to fight the coronavirus. It ensures the private sector can increase manufacturing and distribution of much needed emergency medical supplies and equipment.
When Trump was asked if he saw the nation as being on a wartime footing, he said he did and described himself as “in a sense a wartime president.”
Trump along with members of the coronavirus pandemic task force spoke at a recent press conference saying that the U.S. has made huge changes to the aspects of daily life for its citizens in order to help curb the rapid onset of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of deaths in the U.S. due to the coronavirus is similar to what has been reported in other countries, with around 4 out of 5 deaths occurring in those that are age 65 and older.
The recent outbreak has wreaked havoc across the United States. Everything from schools and restaurants to sporting events and churches are closed in an effort to help contain the virus from spreading. Many cities around the country have put restrictions on large gatherings, and some are even considering establishing curfews.
Trump and his administration have been working with Congress on a $1 trillion stimulus package to help the U.S. economy and to offer relief to businesses and employees who have been affected by the unexpected crisis.
The president is working diligently to secure what the American people need in this time of uncertainty. He announced that the Housing Department will suspend all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April. Also included in Trump’s plans was the temporary closing of the U.S. and Canada shared border to non-essential traffic, a mutual agreement by both leaders.
In an effort to ensure we have the proper medical staff we need, wherever we need it, Vice President Mike Pence is leading the taskforce and announced that Health and Human Services have suspended a regulation preventing medical professionals from practicing medicine across state lines. He also requested that all hospitals in the U.S. postpone all elective medical procedures for now.
President Trump has held several press conferences to keep the public informed of the steps the administration is taking to assist with the crisis.
