The White House is vetting these proposals with Senate GOP leaders before engaging more fully with Democrats, so the package is certain to evolve in coming days. Italy’s coronavirus death toll increased by 475 on Wednesday, the largest daily increase recorded in any country. A growing number of business groups are petitioning the White House and Congress for economic relief as the total number of U.S. cases approached 8,000. White House officials have eyed making each check $1,000, but those talks remain ongoing and the amount could grow. The White House also sent Congress a separate emergency funding request for $46 billion for “ongoing preparedness and response efforts” to the coronavirus.

Source: Washington Post March 18, 2020 14:04 UTC