Washington, Mar 13, 2020, SPA -- U.S. President Donald Trump today declared a national emergency over the fast-spreading coronavirus. "It could get worse. The next eight weeks will be critical," Trump said. Trump made the announcement at a Rose Garden news conference as he battled to show Americans that he is aggressively addressing the health crisis. "To unleash the full power of the federal government in this effort today, I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words. The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion - a very important and a large amount for states and territories or localities in our shared fight against this disease," he said. "Through talent or through luck, call it whatever you want, but through a very collective action and shared sacrifice, national determination, we will overcome the threat of the virus," Trump said. He urged every state to set up emergency centers to help fight the coronavirus. Trump said the federal government was partnering with the private sector to accelerate production of test kits to make them more widely available to Americans. --SPA 23:30 LOCAL TIME 20:30 GMT 0016 www.spa.gov.sa/w1287838