WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As the streets of U.S. cities emptied after stepped-up warnings about the coronavirus threat, the Trump administration pursued on Tuesday a $850 billion stimulus package to buttress the economy and mulled sending Americans $1,000 checks within two weeks.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on the coronavirus (COVID-19) response with tourism industry executives in the Cabinet Rooom of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis
With the number of reported U.S. cases of the respiratory illness surging past 5,200 and deaths approaching 100, millions of Americans hunkered down in their homes instead of commuting to work or school as New York and other major cities escalated “social distancing” policies by closing schools, bars, restaurants and theaters.
Vice President Mike Pence, at a news conference with President Donald Trump, said the White House was preparing for possibly having the U.S. military establish field hospitals in virus hot zones if requested by state governors, or using the Army Corp of Engineers to add capacity to existing hospitals.
That follows a call by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for such steps on Monday.
In one of the most restrictive policies to date, officials in six San Francisco Bay Area counties ordered residents to stay home beginning on Tuesday for all but the most crucial outings until April 7. The order applies to some 6.7 million people.
“It’s like living in a ‘Twilight Zone.’ It’s crazy. Just a week ago things were so different. You can feel the anxiety in the air,” said Rowan Oake, 36, during a jog through San Francisco’s Presidio Park.
New York, Washington state and California have the most confirmed cases.
Sounding optimistic, Trump predicted the hard-hit U.S. economy would “come roaring back” when the coronavirus spread slows and that progress is being mad