Trump to deploy 'full power' of federal government to help states with testing

The White House on Monday said America’s coronavirus-testing is in far better shape and the administration is ready to work with governors to meet their diagnostic demands, “dramatically” increasing the number of tests to help states reopen safely.

“The testing is not going to be a problem at all,” Mr. Trump said in the White House Rose Garden. “In fact, it’s going to be one of the great assets that we have.”

Members of the coronavirus task force said they will marshal the public and private sector to expand rapid testing at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, tap unused lab capacity and make sure governors have the supplies they need, such as swabs, to check people for the virus after governors said they had a hard time navigating supply chains.

The guidance also calls for identifying new clusters of cases, isolating people who might have been exposed and ramping up “serological” tests that check for antibodies, signaling a more collaborative effort than previous calls for governors to figure out a way forward.

“We’re deploying the full power and strength of the federal government to help states, cities,” Mr. Trump said.

The coronavirus has upended life in America and around the globe. The domestic case count of COVID-19 neared 1 million Monday and the death toll exceeded 55,000, though the White House says the broad picture is beginning to improve.

“Things are moving along — really a horrible situation that we’ve been confronted with, but they’re moving along,” Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump pointed to corporate efforts as a sign of progress in the fight to expand testing so that states aren’t flying blind as they tell residents it’s OK to go back to work, get a haircut or see a movie.