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Trump Signs $8 Billion COVID-19 Legislation

VOA News

   U.S. President Donald Trump has signed legislation Friday releasing
   $8.3 billion in emergency spending to combat the COVID-19 outbreak,
   including money for developing a vaccine. The legislation passed
   through the Senate and the House almost unanimously.

   Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said, "In
   situations like this, I believe no expense should be spared to protect
   the American people and in crafting this package none was."
   The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary said Thursday a million
   test kits for the COVID-19 are expected to arrive this weekend at U.S.
   labs.

   Alex Azar said the coronavirus tests are shipping from a private
   manufacturer.

   The Trump administration has received criticism about the short supply
   of test kits.

   Vice President Mike Pence said in Washington state Thursday, "We don't
   have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand
   going forward," but added that "real progress" had been made "in the
   last several days."

   Pence met Thursday with Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Washington is
   the site of 11 of the 12 U.S. deaths from the virus. Most of the deaths
   in Washington took place in a nursing home near Seattle.
   National Nurses United said its members have not been given the
   resources, supplies, protections and trainings they need to do their
   jobs properly. Executive Director Bonnie Castillo said, "It is not a
   successful strategy to leave nurses and other health care workers
   unprotected." Castillo, who is a registered nurse, said when nurses are
   quarantined, "We are not only prevented from caring for COVID-19
   patients, but we are taken away from caring for cancer patients,
   cardiac patients and premature babies."

   US states affected
   Five U.S. states - Maryland, California, Florida, Washington and Hawaii
   - have declared states of emergency because of the virus.

   Maryland joined the roster Thursday after three Montgomery County
   residents - a husband and wife in their 70s and a woman in her 50s -
   were diagnosed with the coronavirus. All three were reported to have
   contracted the virus while on an overseas cruise. Montgomery County is
   a Maryland suburb located next to Washington, DC.

   Colorado has announced its first two cases - a man and a woman - of of
   the coronavirus. Both had traveled internationally, but officials say
   the cases are not related.

   U.S. Forces Korea said Friday that one of its workers in South Korea
   has tested positive for the virus. She is the seventh USFK employee to
   test positive for the coronavirus. Authorities say she is in quarantine
   at her off-base residence in Cheonan.

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