Trump declares coronavirus national emergency

President Donald Trump issued a federal emergency declaration on Friday over the coronavirus outbreak following a week of cancellations, suspensions and growing case numbers that unsettled Americans nationwide.

Washington: US President Donald Trump announced a national state of emergency on Friday, freeing up USD 50 billion in federal funds for the battle against the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

"To unleash the full power of the federal government, I'm officially declaring a national emergency," Trump said in a statement on the White House lawn.

He called on all US states to set up emergency operation centers and said the government was accelerating testing, amid criticism about the lack of sufficient test kits nationwide.

At least 1,740 cases of coronavirus have been reported across 48 states and the District of Columbia, CNN reported.

At least 41 people have died -- 31 in Washington state, which has been the epicentre of the outbreak, with at least 457 cases, four in California, two in Florida, one in Georgia, one in Kansas, one in New Jersey, and one in South Dakota.

(With inputs from ANI and AP)