Credit photo: AP
President Barack Obama declared the fast-spreading swine flu a national emergency Friday night, a move that authorizes federal officials to waive some requirements in dealing with the virus, such as letting hospitals set up separate facilities to keep patients with the virus from infecting others.
The White House announced Saturday that Obama had signed the proclamation, saying it will make it easier for healthcare providers to “handle a surge in H1N1 patients" if necessary.
In a letter sent to Congress reporting the move, Obama wrote, “the rapid increase in illness across the Nation may overburden health care resources and that the temporary waiver of certain standard Federal requirements may be warranted in order to enable U.S. health care facilities to implement emergency operations plans."
Since April, over 1,000 people have died and 20,000 people have been hospitalized by the virus. Thousands more have gotten sick from the flu with the onset of fall, resulting in mass absences from school and work across the country.
CDC officials estimated this week that 1 in 5 children had symptoms of H1N1.
source: politico.com