President Trump deploying National Guard in NY, California, Washington as U.S. now 3rd highest globally in virus cases
WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Guard will be deployed to assist in the fight against the coronavirus in the hard-hit states of New York, California and Washington, President Donald Trump announced. The effort will include delivery of medical supplies and the establishment of medical stations in those states.
The move, announced at Sunday evening's briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, comes as the United States now has over 32,000 diagnosed cases of the novel coronavirus, the third highest total globally, while the number of deaths in the nation hit 400.
"The federal government will be funding 100% of the cost to deploy National Guard units to carry out approved missions to stop the virus while those governors remain in command," Trump said. "I spoke with all three of the governors today, just a little while ago, they're very happy with what we're doing."
In addition, Trump said, "I directed FEMA to supply the following: Four large medical stations with 1,000 beds for New York, eight large federal medical stations with 2,000 beds for California. and three large federal medical stations and four small federal medical stations with 1,000 beds for the state of Washington."
Pete Gaynor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, will be arriving in the affected states within 42 hours.
Also at the briefing, officials urged that testing be prioritized toward the neediest cases.
"We want people that have been checked into a hospital, that are being treated for what they expect to be coronavirus, to receive those tests more quickly," said Vice President Mike Pence.
Members of the task force said that 254,000 Americans have been tested for Covid-19, with about 32,000 of those -- 11.8% -- testing positive.
According to commercial testing labs, the U.S. should be caught up on the backlog in testing by midweek, officials said.
