Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is speaking directly to President Donald Trump regarding his response to the coronavirus.
Warren penned a letter to Trump on Wednesday requesting that he direct the Army Corps of Engineers to create more temporary medical facilities. She wrote in tweet reiterating her support for the initiative.
“The number of coronavirus cases is growing, and we need more resources to care for new patients,” Warren tweeted, adding, “Today I’m requesting that Donald Trump deploy the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing facilities to care for patients with coronavirus.”
The number of coronavirus cases is growing, and we need more resources to care for new patients. Today I'm requesting that Donald Trump deploy the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing facilities to care for patients with coronavirus. https://t.co/GNKu9qOVUV
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) March 18, 2020
In her letter, she references New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (D) request to mobilize the Army Corps of Engineers to equip facilities and to help serve as temporary medical centers.
Warren pointed out that other states are in need of those resources as well.
“While I welcome your recent decision to grant Governor Cuomo’s request for New York, other states need additional capacity for coronavirus-related hospitalizations,” Warren wrote.
Warren continued by outlining the issues that states and health care providers are facing including shortages of equipment.
Citing the growth of the virus she closes her letter with a call for action.
“Given the reality of the exponential growth of the virus, supplemental infrastructure must be designated and ready to receive patients immediately,” she wrote, adding, “The Army Corps is in position to help address this public health emergency by converting existing space into temporary medical centers. Taking this action will save lives.”
Trump held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments of solutions to combat the coronavirus.
He announced that he will be invoking the Defense Production Act. The act is designed to accelerate the development of equipment that is needed, as IJR reported.
Watch Trump’s announcement below:
President @realDonaldTrump: "We will be invoking the Defense Production Act." pic.twitter.com/yUsLbV9ri9
— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) March 18, 2020
Total deaths from the coronavirus in the United States has reached at least 7,300, as of Wednesday afternoon.