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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington March 11, 2020. (CNS photo/Doug Mills, pool via Reuters)
March 13, 2020
Nicholas Wolfram SmithPresident Trump declared a state of emergency in the United States March 13 as the number of confirmed cases climbed to 1,268, with 33 deaths.
In his announcement, President Trump said "To unleash the full power of the federal government … I am officially declaring a national emergency," which frees up to $50 billion in federal funding to cover emergency costs incurred by states as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president said 1.4 million new tests for coronavirus would be available by next week and 5 million would be accessible in the next month.
President Trump also said there would be a drive-thru option for testing and that the Health and Human Services Department had been given authority to waive hospital regulations that may obstruct treatment.
California had 247 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, a nearly 25 percent increase from the previous day’s total. The state also recorded five deaths.
According to the most recent available figures, the Bay Area has a total of 141 confirmed cases. Santa Clara County recorded 66 cases, while Contra Costa County has 25, San Francisco County has 23, San Mateo County has 20, Alameda County has 7 and Marin County has 3. There has been one recorded death, in Santa Clara County.Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a press release for the nation’s Catholics, reminding the church that “God does not abandon us.”
“Even now in this time of trial and testing … it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor. Let us draw closer to one another in our love for him, and rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives.”
Archbishop Gomez said the global COVID-19 outbreak has been a reminder that “the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that we are all one family under God.” The archbishop invoked the aid of Our Lady of Guadalupe and asked for prayers for those who are sick and whose loved ones have died, and for the medical and public health professionals leading the response to the pandemic.
In the Archdiocese of San Francisco, some parishes have cancelled events and closed down their offices in response to the pandemic. St. Pius in Redwood City parish closed its parish center and suspended all extracurricular on-campus activities until March 26. Masses and confessions will continue as scheduled, and St. Pius pastor Father Thomas V. Martin emphasized that priests continue to be available for pastoral needs.
St. Anthony of Padua in Novato suspended Masses for two weeks and cancelled all parish activities in order to protect parishioners. In a letter announcing the change, pastor Father Felix Lim said “depriving ourselves of Mass is the greatest sacrifice we can make,” and asked Catholic to remember the example of the early church, which grew amid difficulties even without having the Eucharist always available.
Several parishes have cancelled their religious education classes or moved them online.
On Friday, the Diocese of San Jose announced it would close its schools until March 27. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at any school, however, Bishop Oscar Cantú said he took the measure to “not only protect our students, but also our neighbors and those who may be most vulnerable to the health effects of this virus.”
Because of the disruption to attending Mass for many in the church, MAGNIFICAT magazine has temporarily offered complimentary access to its online version of daily prayer throughout the world. The English version can be found at www.magnificat.com/free and in Spanish at www.magnificat.com/gratis.
MAGNIFICAT President Romain Lizé said “it can be spiritually difficult and frustrating when you cannot attend because of sickness or out of caution. We are honored to make this resource available to keep everyone united with the Church and to sanctify their day as it offers all the texts of Mass and prayers inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours."
Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties recently both banned large gatherings, with San Mateo prohibiting gatherings of more than 250.
Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County’s health officer, explained the measure is to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Airports, houses of worship, museums, offices, hotels and grocery stores and shopping malls are not affected by the ban. In those venues, the county has strongly encouraged people to use social distancing and good hygiene.