Trump seeks $850 billion to spark economy

The Trump administration said on Tuesday it will ask Congress to infuse about $850 billion in additional stimulus to help the economy threatened by fallout from the spreading coronavirus, including payments to Americans facing furloughs and layoffs.

Speaking at the White House briefing room, Trump promised to help thousands of workers. Among options being considered: $1,000 checks to almost all Americans, he said. Trump had initially supported a payroll tax holiday, but said Tuesday that would take too long to deliver relief to Americans.

"The president has instructed me we have to do this now," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said about the relief for Americans. He is spearheading talks with Congress.

Mnuchin and Trump didn't offer additional details on how monetary relief might get to Americans, except saying there are several options, including just cutting checks. That would need to be approved by Congress, where there is bipartisan support for such an idea.

Trump said, he had directed Mnuchin to meet with senators on an additional stimulus package. "There's tremendous spirit," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "It's my intention that the Senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold new steps above and beyond what the House has passed to help our strong nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm."

A group of Senate Democrats, led by Michael Bennet of Colorado, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, were proposing legislation to send as much as $4,500 to nearly every adult and child in the US this year, as part of a sustained government income-support program to counter the economic slowdown from coronavirus.

The Trump administration said it is also supporting a request for $50 billion in economic relief for the airline industry as part of the broader package. The administration is also considering ways to support the cruise ship industry.

Trump reiterated an earlier request for Americans not to hoard food supplies, and again outlined the guidelines put in place by his administration on Monday, which include not being in groups of more than 10 and working from home when possible.

"By making sacrifices and temporary changes, we can protect the health of our people and our economy," Trump said. "I think our economy will come back rapidly. If we do this right, our country and the world frankly, but our country can be rolling again pretty quickly."

On Tuesday, the US death toll hit 91, and there are more than 5,100 confirmed cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University data.

Health departments in the US on Monday reported the largest number of coronavirus-related deaths on any one day since the onset of the outbreak: 22.

Worldwide, more than 7,500 people have been killed by the virus.

More cases are expected in the US in the coming days as the government ramps up testing.

Thousands of schools, offices, bars, restaurants and stores remain closed across major US cities.

Miami issued an order on Tuesday mandating all entertainment and non-essential business establishments to close until further notice due to increased cases of community transmission in Florida. Dine-in restaurants may sell food for takeout, delivery, and drive-thru on a two-hour basis.

The latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health now attributes a fifth death to the coronavirus while more counties have logged their first case of the virus.

About 7 million people in and around San Francisco have been told to "shelter in place," requiring them to stay inside and leave only for essential needs.

In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said city officials are "absolutely considering" a shelter-in-place order similar to the one that took effect Monday in the San Francisco Bay Area.

But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said there are no plans to quarantine New York City, despite rumors and fears.

"We hear New York City is going to quarantine itself — that is not true," Cuomo said at a news conference, adding that cities would need to get state approval to make such orders.

"We have no interest whatsoever — and no plan whatsoever — to quarantine any city," he said.

Calls have intensified for social distancing as one of the only measures that could that could prevent the spread of the virus, and Trump urged Americans against gathering in groups larger than 10 people.

And health officials sent a message to all Americans: Limit your interactions now or overwhelm the health systems meant to take care of you.

Overseas, European cities and dozens of countries are shutting their borders or implementing mandatory self-isolation stints for travelers arriving from abroad.

Israel's Ministry of Health has instructed people to avoid leaving the home unless absolutely necessary and to avoid public transportation entirely if possible.