Recap: White House Task Force Sunday Coronavirus Briefing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump says he will use the Defense Production Act to increase manufacturing of swabs used to test for the coronavirus.

Many governors have for weeks urged the White House to further evoke federal powers to increase private industry’s production of medical supplies as health officials work to slow the spread of the virus. Trump has generally been reluctant to do so.

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But the president said during a briefing Sunday evening that he would use the measure to increase production of swabs and that he would soon announce that production reaching 10 million per month.

To emphasize the point, Trump waved a swab in front of reporters. Trump also said that Vice President Mike Pence would hold a call with governors on Monday to discuss testing and send a list of lab facilities in their states.

On Sunday, Trump and multiple members of his administration indicated that a deal will be reached soon to add $300 billion for the small business rescue program.

The additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses is needed after the Small Business Administration reached the $349 billion lending limit approved in the last stimulus package in three weeks.

As of Sunday evening there are more than 750,o00 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and over 40,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.