CHICAGO (Reuters) – As President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, the coronavirus pandemic pushed Los Angeles and Chicago to suspend classes, delayed two of the country’s best-known sporting events and triggered a run on food supplies at some grocery stores.
Trump’s declaration would “unleash the full power of the federal government” to bear on the escalating health crisis by freeing up some $50 billion in aid, Trump said at the White House. He urged every state to set up emergency centers to help fight the virus, which has already killed at least 47 Americans and infected nearly 1,700.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said a deal with the Trump administration on a coronavirus aid package had been struck and would soon be passed by lawmakers.
Outside of Washington, the crisis extended deeper into the daily routine of American life. The Los Angeles United School District, the country’s second largest with 750,000 students, will close all schools for two weeks beginning Monday while it evaluates what to do next.
“This will be a challenging time for families and put a strain on teachers and students, and each of us can play a part in supporting them,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
San Francisco, San Diego, Miami and Washington, D.C. were among the other big cities telling students on Friday to stay away from class for two or three weeks.
In Illinois, Governor Jay Pritzker said all public schools in the state, including those in Chicago, would close beginning Tuesday through March 29. A handful of states, including Ohio and Michigan, have announced similar shutdowns.
In the world of sports, Boston said it would stage its prestigious marathon on Sept. 15 instead of April 20 b