Trump views Covid-19 as an invisible enemy, but not strong enough to defeat the United States and the people will overcome the pandemic.

"I want all Americans to understand that we are fighting the invisible enemy, but that enemy is not an opponent that is worthy of the American spirit and determination. That enemy cannot overcome the commitment. of our doctors, nurses and scientists. It cannot defeat the love, patriotism and determination of our people. Strong and united, we will win ", US President Donald Trump posted on Twitter on March 18.

Earlier that same day, Trump activated the Defense Production Law, introduced since the Korean War in the 1950s, allowing the President to ask the US industry to increase production of important equipment and supplies such as ventilators, masks and protective gear for health workers.

Covid-19 has appeared in 173 countries and territories, causing nearly 220,000 people to be infected and nearly 9,000 to die. The US currently records more than 9,000 cases, of which 151 have died.

Trump last week declared a national emergency, giving states and territories access to $ 50 billion in federal funds to cope with the epidemic. The United States also bans travel to most of Europe, China, Canada and other places heavily affected by Covid-19.

Trump said a hospital ship would be flown to New York, one of the hardest-hit states from Covid-19, to help patients, while a second hospital ship was deployed to the West Bank. The US president also defended his calling Covid-19 a "Chinese virus". "This is not racist, absolutely not. The virus is from China," Trump said.