    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9994 of March 13, 2020
    Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease
    (COVID-19) Outbreak
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    In December 2019, a novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (``the
    virus'';) was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's
    Republic of China, causing outbreaks of the coronavirus disease COVID-19
    that has now spread globally. The Secretary of Health and Human Services
    (HHS) declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020, under
    section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d), in
    response to COVID-19. I have taken sweeping action to control the spread
    of the virus in the United States, including by suspending entry of
    foreign nationals seeking entry who had been physically present within
    the prior 14 days in certain jurisdictions where COVID-19 outbreaks have
    occurred, including the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic
    of Iran, and the Schengen Area of Europe. The Federal Government, along
    with State and local governments, has taken preventive and proactive
    measures to slow the spread of the virus and treat those affected,
    including by instituting Federal quarantines for individuals evacuated
    from foreign nations, issuing a declaration pursuant to section 319F-3
    of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6d), and releasing
    policies to accelerate the acquisition of personal protective equipment
    and streamline bringing new diagnostic capabilities to laboratories. On
    March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the COVID-
    19 outbreak can be characterized as a pandemic, as the rates of
    infection continue to rise in many locations around the world and across
    the United States.
    The spread of COVID-19 within our Nation's communities threatens to
    strain our Nation's healthcare systems. As of March 12, 2020, 1,645
    people from 47 States have been infected with the virus that causes
    COVID-19. It is incumbent on hospitals and medical facilities throughout
    the country to assess their preparedness posture and be prepared to
    surge capacity and capability. Additional measures, however, are needed
    to successfully contain and combat the virus in the United States.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by
    the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
    United States of America, including sections 201 and 301 of the National
    Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and consistent with section
    1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5),
    do hereby find and proclaim that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United
    States constitutes a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020.
    Pursuant to this declaration, I direct as follows:
    Section 1. Emergency Authority. The Secretary of HHS may exercise the
    authority under section 1135 of the SSA to temporarily waive or modify
    certain requirements of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's
    Health Insurance programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and
    Accountability Act Privacy Rule throughout the duration of the public
    health emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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    Sec. 2. Certification and Notice. In exercising this authority, the
    Secretary of HHS shall provide certification and advance written notice
    to the Congress as required by section 1135(d) of the SSA (42 U.S.C.
    1320b-5(d)).
    Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be
    construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or
    agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
    Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b) This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with
    applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any
    right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
    equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
    agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other
    person.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
    March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP