Washington, March 14 (AFP/APP): US President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency as the World Health Organization named Europe the new epicentre of the coronavirus Friday, with countries sealing borders, shutting schools and cancelling events in a frenzied attempt to slow the ballooning pandemic. Wall Street stocks rallied as financial markets endured a rollercoaster ride after a week of spectacular losses triggered by fears that the deadly outbreak will lead to a worldwide economic recession. “To unleash the full power of the federal government, I’m officially declaring a national emergency,” Trump said, announcing $50 billion in federal funds to battle the fast-spreading pandemic. The measure came as infections and deaths soared in Europe, with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying the continent now had “more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.” He described it as a “tragic milestone”, and warned that it was impossible to say when the virus would peak globally. The overall death toll jumped to more than 5,000 across the world, including nearly 1,500 in Europe, with total infections topping 140,000 internationally, according to an AFP tally based on official sources. Italy, Spain as well as Iran … Continue reading US declares emergency as new virus epicentre Europe locks down