US government delivers nearly €461bn more in virus aid
President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony on Friday for the US government’s new $500bn (€461bn) coronavirus relief bill.
The package, which was passed on Thursday, will bring relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six US jobs.
Anchoring the bill is $250bn to replenish a fund to help small and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses.
The payroll programme provides forgivable loans so businesses can continue paying workers while forced to stay closed for social distancing and stay-at-home orders.
It also contains $100bn for hospitals and a nationwide testing program, along with $60bn set aside for small banks that focus on development in urban neighbourhoods and rural areas ignored by many lenders.
There’s also $60bn for small-business loans and grants delivered through the Small Business Administration’s existing disaster aid program.
Mr Trump celebrated the bill’s passage at his daily White House briefing on Thursday.
At a time when many Americans are enduring significant economic challenges, this bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll.
“At a time when many Americans are enduring significant economic challenges, this bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll,” he said.
Passage of more coronavirus relief is likely in the weeks ahead.
Supporters are already warning that the business-backed Payroll Protection Programme will exhaust the new $250bn almost immediately.
Launched just weeks ago, the programme quickly reached its lending limit after approving nearly 1.7 million loans.
Thursday’s measure brings total rescue funding to $2.4tn, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Each day brings new evidence of the economic calamity wrought by the virus.
Thursday morning the government reported that 4.4 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs sweep the economy.
Over the last five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid.
