Not All Heroes Wear Capes 24
On March 11, the World Health Organization announced that the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, was officially characterized as a pandemic. The United States, as well as many countries around the world, continued to see a rise in the rate of infections, resulting in President Donald Trump issuing a national emergency. Formally declaring an emergency opens doors to help curb the current crisis. Specifically, Trump declared an emergency under two acts: the Stafford Act and the National Emergencies Act. The former is typically invoked for major disasters and allows the federal government to offer assistance to the state affected, according to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The latter allows the Department of Health and Human Services to alter or modify regulations for programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which can bring about changes in the wider medical system. “The spread of COVID-19 within our Nation’s communities threatens to strain our Nation’s healthcare systems,” Trump said in his proclamation declaring the national emergency. “It is incumbent on hospitals and medical facilities throughout the country to assess their preparedness posture and be prepared to surge capacity and capability. Additional measures, however, are needed to successfully contain and combat the virus in the United States.” COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which was first detected in the Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China in December of last year. Its symptoms cause respiratory illness, which can seem flu-like with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and fatigue. The reason this virus has quickly become a pandemic is because of the ease with which it can spread to others and how it can be lethal to the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
