California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday made the declaration in order to receive emergency federal funding to battle the coronavirus, which has killed more than 3,250 people and infected more than 95,000 globally. The coronavirus causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19.
<in order to receive emergency federal funding
https://www.businessinsider.com/california-washington-state-of-emergency-coronavirus-what-it-means-2020-3