The White House on Wednesday took steps to ensure the safety of health care workers as they deal with the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus. President Trump signed a memorandum directing his cabinet to make general-use face masks available to health care workers, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a letter on an authorization to make available millions of general-use respirators to health care workers. TRUMP: 'CORONAVIRUS DOESN'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU ARE IN'The statement was released just hours before Trump is expected to address the nation on the COVID-19 public health emergency, which the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared a global pandemic. Trump is expected to announce an executive order insisting on American-made medical supplies and pharmaceuticals in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The White House is also considering a host of more aggressive responses to free up additional federal dollars and to address concerns that the administration's initial response to the pandemic was insufficient.

Source: Fox News March 11, 2020 22:51 UTC