Transcript
As US coronavirus cases top 34,000, the federal government has deployed the US National Guard in California, Washington and New York, three of the states hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
On Sunday President Trump said the extra forces will provide “backup” to state leaders.
The orders are intended, in part, to reduce stress on the healthcare system.
This can include the US National Guard assisting with cleaning public buildings or distributing food.
They could also be used to assist with policing in order to do so.
The deployment comes as states face orders from their governors to stay home to curb the spread of the virus.
Stay-at-home orders encourage social distancing measures but make exceptions for people to leave their home for things like buying food, picking up medicine and going to work for essential jobs.
Some encourage being outside and active as long as you practice social distancing.
Other states that are also under stay-at-home orders include Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Louisiana and Connecticut.
In New York and Connecticut breaking stay-at-home orders could result in a fine.
Nearly half of all US cases, 16,887, are in New York state, making it the epicenter of the US outbreak.
Posted – 3.23.20