According to a Vietnam News Agency reporter in Washington, the bill includes provisions allowing American workers to take paid leave in emergencies and receive free testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19. The bill will be sent to the Senate for a vote.
Before the House of Representatives voted, US President Donald Trump supported the bill. On Twitter, he emphasized that this bill is the next step after he requested free SARS-CoV-2 testing and paid sick leave for affected workers.
President Trump stated: “I have directed the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations that create flexible conditions to help small businesses not be affected.
I encourage Republican and Democratic lawmakers to work together and pass the bill.”
On the same day, President Trump’s administration and leading Republican lawmakers called on the Senate to quickly pass the above bill and seriously consider a new large-scale economic stimulus bill.
Talking to the press after meeting with Republican senators, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was looking for a “big number” for an additional stimulus package to support the US economy in the coming months. context of the COVID-19 outbreak.
He stated: “We will seek support for small and medium-sized businesses as well as certain industries heavily affected by the epidemic such as aviation, hotels….”
For the first time since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in the US, President Trump had to admit that the world’s leading economy is “probably” heading towards recession after the epidemic claimed the lives of many people. more than 7,000 people globally and caused Wall Street stocks to experience their worst day since 1987, losing nearly 13% of their value.
In the context of the US following European countries in closing schools, public places, cinemas, restaurants, and bars, the White House boss predicts that the crisis called COVID-19 will last longer—at least a few months.
Currently, the COVID-19 epidemic has spread across 49 states, Washington, DC, and the US territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The state of New Jersey and the city of San Francisco had to declare a curfew on March 16 to prevent the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico became the first US territory to impose a curfew from 9 pm to 5 am the next morning. Governor Wanda Vazquez said people are required to stay at home 24/7 until March 30.
Only authorized people can leave the house between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. to buy food, gasoline, or medicine.
The outbreak also caused many states to postpone holding Democratic primary elections to June. Despite the judge’s refusal, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on March 16 that he would postpone the organization. The primary election in this state is expected to take place on March 17.
Mr. DeWine said the Director of the Ohio Department of Health will order a postponement of the polls as part of the emergency health measure.
