From TPM: Why Washington State Is Desperate For Trump To Declare A COVID-19 Emergency

As Washington state grapples with what may be the country’s worst outbreak of novel coronavirus, the absence of a COVID-19 emergency declaration from President Trump has hamstrung its ability to respond to the crisis.

Update on March 11: Coronavirus is a disaster. Why hasn’t FEMA been brought in?“It might be time to put our national disaster agency in charge.”

Another update on March 11: Why no emergency declaration? From Politico: Trump fears emergency declaration would contradict coronavirus message. “Trump is concerned that declaring an emergency would hamper his narrative that the coronavirus is similar to the seasonal flu.”

March 11: From CNN: States and White House consider disaster declaration to deal with coronavirus outbreak.