Coronavirus: USA Deploys National Guard in Three States

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of National Guard troops in the three states hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

Troops will be used in New York, California and Washington to deliver medical aid and set up medical stations after the number of deaths nationwide rose to 471 and infections to 35,244.

There are fears of a shortage of key medical supplies in New York City.

A bill to fund national relief efforts has been blocked in the Senate.

Opposition Democrats want the emergency stimulus bill, which is worth almost $1.4 trillion (£1.2 trillion), to include more money for state and local governments and hospitals, while Mr Trump's Republicans are pushing for quick action to reassure financial markets.

In other developments, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says the coronavirus pandemic is "accelerating"

UK health secretary tells people who ignoring government advice they're "selfish"

South Korea reports the lowest number of new coronavirus cases since infection rates peaked four weeks ago

There are currently over 35,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the US and just over 470 deaths attributed to the virus. The US now has the third highest number of cases in the world, below Italy and China.

On Monday, the top US public health official, Surgeon General Dr Jerome Adams, cautioned that there "are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously".

"I want America to understand this week it's going to get bad," Dr Adams said on the Today television programme. He noted that young people especially were ignoring guidance to practise social distancing.

"Everyone needs to be taking the right steps, right now: stay home."

Michigan on Monday became the latest state to issue a stay at home order for residents. Critical services, like pharmacies and grocery stores, will remain open.

National Guard troops are also helping distribute food and medical supplies across the country.

The head of the US National Guard, General Joseph Lengyel, described the situation as having "54 different hurricanes hitting every state".

"All 50 states, three territories & DC are engaged in combating Covid-19," Gen Lengyel said. "This morning 7,300 National Guardsman & women are providing critical skills support."

Covid-19 has also reached top US lawmakers.

Republican Senator Rand Paul, 57, said he tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, prompting fellow party members Senators Mitt Romney, 73, and Mike Lee, 48, to also self-quarantine as they had been in direct contact with him. Neither Mr Romney nor Mr Lee have shown symptoms so far, local media report.

President Trump described the crisis facing the US as a "war", saying: "I want to assure the American people that we're doing everything we can each day to confront and ultimately defeat this horrible invisible enemy."

The medical stations the National Guard will set up have a capacity of 4,000 beds, 2,000 of which will go to California, 1,000 to New York and 1,000 to Washington state.

n addition, Mr Trump said he had approved requests to issue a major disaster declaration for the states of New York and Washington, and would do the same for California "very shortly".

Such declarations make federal funds available for relief work.

Earlier, several state governors and local authorities pleaded with the federal government to make more medical supplies available.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday: "We're about 10 days away from seeing widespread shortages. If we don't get more ventilators people will die."

New York state accounts for almost half of the country's cases.

In California, officials have instructed hospitals to restrict coronavirus testing because of a shortage of medical supplies.

Meanwhile, a hospital in Washington state - once the centre of the US outbreak - said it could run out of ventilators by April.

It failed to pass the Senate on Sunday, getting 47 votes and thus falling short of the 60 needed in the 100-member chamber.

Democrats raised objections to the bill with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying it had "many, many problems". Democrats accused Republicans of wanting to bail out big businesses.

Talks between Democrats and the White House are continuing.

FROM  .bbc.com/news/world-us-canada