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Trump Increases His Projection of US Dead

VOA News

   U.S. President Donald Trump raised his projection of how many people
   will die from COVID-19, while pledging additional economic support as
   he looks toward further reopening of the country.

   "We're going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people. That's a
   horrible thing,"Trump said during a Fox News town hall broadcast Sunday
   night.

   Last week, he said projected coronavirus deaths would be between 60,000
   and 70,000 people.

   As the Senate prepared to reconvene Monday, Trump said the federal
   government could double its current $3 billion in emergency aid. So
   far,those funds have gone to help small businesses stay afloat, to
   provide supplies to hospitals, andtoput money in the hands oftaxpayers.

   "There is more help coming," Trump said.

   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said his chamber was returning
   to work on continued COVID-19 action as well as other urgent matters.

   "All across our nation, American workers in essential sectors are
   following expert advice and taking new precautions while they continue
   reporting for duty and performing irreplaceable work their country
   needs. Starting Monday, the Senate will do the same," McConnell said in
   a statement.

   Leaders in the House of Representatives havethusfar not announced plans
   tomeet in Washington, while asking Capitol physicians to share guidance
   on how to do so safely.

   House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said there needsto be detailed
   procedures for disinfecting surfaces and protecting people from
   exposure, and that social distancing guidelines "will likely have to
   remain in place for some time."

   McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a joint statement
   declining the Trump administration's offer of deploying rapid COVID-19
   tests for peopleon Capitol Hill, saying they will stick with current
   testing protocols implemented by Capitol doctors.

   "Our country's testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide
   and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line
   facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly," the
   leaders said.

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