Trump approves New York's request to declare major disaster

Hospital workers are seen near a tent erected to test for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., March 19, 2020. /Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for the state of New York over the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Friday.

The move allows federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for all areas in the State of New York impacted by COVID-19.

Seamus K. Leary has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area, according to a statement made by the White House. Additional designations may be made at a later date.

New York has been hit hardest out of all 50 U.S. states by the coronavirus. As of Friday afternoon, there were almost 8,310 confirmed cases in the state, out of which 5,151 were in New York City. 42 people have died from the virus so far.

A screenshot, from the website of Coronavirus Resource Center in Johns Hopkins University, shows live data of confirmed cases and death toll around the world.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo said around 1,250 people, or 18 percent of the total number of infected patients in the state, were hospitalized. State officials estimated this week that the number of coronavirus cases in New York will peak in around 45 days, or early May.

The State of New York, together with Illinois, also issued on Friday a statewide order for all nonessential services to shut down, telling tens of millions of people to stay at home to contain the coronavirus crisis.

Businesses that don't comply with the order will be fined, and all nonessential gatherings of any size should be canceled or postponed.

The move, which impacts more than 70 million people or about a fifth of the U.S. population, close all but essential businesses and require people to stay inside except for trips to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other "essential businesses."

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he planned to give similar orders shutting down all but essential businesses within the next 24 hours.

The four states where governors have banned or will soon ban non-essential businesses and ask residents to stay home account for about 30 percent of the U.S. economy.