Coronavirus: Trump to declare national emergency

President of the United States of America has scheduled a press conference to announce the development

13 March 2020, 5:08pm

1 min read

Donald Trump announced a travel ban from the EU from the Oval Office at the White House earlier this week

US President Donald Trump plans to declare a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, according US news sources quoting adminstration officials.

The declaration would free up financial resources to assist Americans affected by the outbreak.

The president has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET (8pm CET) press conference on Friday at the White House.

The conference is set to occur shortly after Trump is scheduled to meet at the White House with major laboratory company executives about the response to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Earlier this week, the president had announced a travel ban to EU countries in a bid to stop the virus spreading.