US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The move is expected to free up about US $50 billion to fight the spread of the disease. His order also called for states to set up emergency centres as well as hospitals to activate emergency preparedness plans.

Trump previously announced that he was instituting a 30-day ban on travel to all European nations besides the United Kingdom. That ban starts today.

His declaration comes as many public and private institutions have taken action like cancelling major events, temporarily banning large gatherings, closing schools and telling people to work from home in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

As of today 1,700 confirmed or presumptive cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in the US and the death toll has climbed to 41.