
COVID-19 Update | Thursday, March 26 (PM)
March 26, 2020
Congress
- We expect the House to consider the CARES Act as soon as tomorrow morning by voice vote.
- Speaker Pelosi indicated during a press conference that she predicts a “strong bipartisan vote” when the House takes up the $2 trillion rescue package.
- We expect the bill to be signed by the President shortly after it is passed.
- Speaker Pelosi also confirmed that House Democrats are already focused on a fourth relief package and that drafting has begun.
Administration
- The President spoke to G20 leaders this morning to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The President stated that the United States is continuing to coordinate efforts around the world to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to share data.
- The Administration today spoke with all state and territory leadership on COVID-19 response.
- The President praised the Senate for coming together to pass the third COVID-19 relief package 96-0 and urged the House of Representatives to pass the package. Expeditiously.
- USNS Comfort hospital ship will be underway to New York City on Saturday as opposed to three weeks from now, which the Administration communicated with Governor Cuomo today.
- New York state and New York City in particular were a centerpiece of tonight’s Coronavirus Task Force Briefing and how they and the federal government are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic there.
Other News
- The United States now has the most known cases of COVID-19 with over 82,000.
- FEMA has shipped over 9 million N95 masks to date.
- There are over 500,000 reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide to date.
- Additional test kits have been opened up for states that want to do contact tracing.
- Currently, all of the nation’s hotspots are located in and around urban parts of the US.
- 86% of those tested for COVID-19 have come back negative.
- Restaurants have been closing at a rapid rate, with 3% of all restaurants in the US closing for good. Reports indicate that another 11% could close in the next 30 days.