Trump invokes Defence Production Act to fight coronavirus outbreak

Describing himself as a "wartime president", Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his administration will invoke the Defence Production Act, a move which will gear up the US armed forces to manufacture testing kits and other equipment, including masks and gloves, on a war footing to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The Defence Production Act (DPA) allows the authorities to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the US industrial base to support military, energy, space and homeland security programmes.

The Act, which was passed by Congress in 1950 at the outset of the Korean War, is normally used during counter terrorism operations, emergency preparedness activities and protection and restoration of critical infrastructure.

Addressing reporters at the White House, President Trump said he would sign the DPA "in case we need it" as the government stepped up efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Responding to a question, Trump said, "I view (myself) as a, in a sense, a wartime president. I mean, that's what we're fighting. I mean, it's a very tough situation here."
Referring to various reports of young people getting seriously ill, White House Task Force Response Coordinator Deborah Birx said, "There may be a disproportional number of infections among millennials. But we have not seen any significant mortality in children."