Trump issues major disaster declaration for DC over coronavirus

President Trump on Sunday issued a major disaster declaration for Washington, D.C., as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread in the city and the country.

The declaration allows the city to access federal funds to help D.C.’s efforts in combating the coronavirus. 

The president’s declaration for D.C. marks the 22nd territory that has received a major disaster declaration and federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Nineteen states, Puerto Rico and Guam have received the other designations.

The funding will be available to the city government and certain private nonprofit organizations for “emergency protective measures.”

The declaration follows city officials’ concerns that the nation’s capital did not receive adequate attention in the most recent stimulus package that was passed by Trump last week. It was included with the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, which collectively received $3.3 billion in funding. Each state is set to get about $1.25 billion.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said Thursday that the money D.C. will receive amounts to about $700 per  resident, compared to about $2,000 other states get per resident.

The city has confirmed 342 cases of coronavirus and five deaths, according to the D.C. Health Department and Johns Hopkins University data.