The United States has reached a harrowing milestone in the fight against the coronavirus as the numbers of deaths linked to COVID-19 passed the 1,000 mark late Wednesday, NBC News reports. Globally, the pandemic’s death toll has surpassed the 20,000 mark, with nearly half a million confirmed cases recorded by Johns Hopkins University.
As of now, the U.S. has the sixth highest death toll about two weeks into major efforts to quell the virus through social distancing and stay-at-home orders throughout the country, with Italy, Spain, Iran, China and France taking the top spots. Within the U.S., New York has been the state hit hardest by the illness, with the state reporting nearly 33,000 cases as of Wednesday, the majority of which are in New York City. That same day, the city reported 81 deaths in an 8-hour span, bringing the total to 280.
Videos by PopCulture.com
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is attempting to limit the damage to the economy caused by the coronavirus pandemic, passing a $2 trillion stimulus package late Wednesday that provides billions of dollars of credit for industries feeling the pressure of the pandemic, an increase to unemployment insurance and cash payments to citizens. The bill now waits in the hands of the House, which will not vote until Friday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Wednesday.
Included in the package is $150 billion for hospitals and medical centers to be able to treat the influx of patients, as well as cash payments of up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples, with $500 add-ons per every child based on 2019 tax returns (2018 tax returns will be relied on for people who have yet to file). The benefits begin to decline for individuals making $75,000 and drop off completely for those making $99,000 or more.
“Most of these will be direct deposit,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday to NBC. “It will be within three weeks.”
“We’re determined to get money in people’s pockets immediately,” he added.
Photo credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Most Viewed
-
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) -
ALL IN THE FAMILY. Rob Reiner as Mike Stivic and Sally Struthers as Gloria Bunker Stivic. Image dated 1979. Copyright ©1979 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Credit: CBS Photo Archive. -
Netflix logo (Credit: Netflix) -
L-R: Todd Lasance as AFP Liaison Officer Sergeant Jim 'JD' Dempsey, Olivia Swann as NCIS Special Agent Captain Michelle Mackey, Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle as AFP Liaison Officer Constable Evie Cooper and William McInnes as Forensic Pathologist Dr. Roy Penrose in NCIS: Sydney episode 9, season 3 streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Daniel Asher Smith/Paramount+ -
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 15: Rob Reiner and Michele Singer attend the Broadway Opening Night Performance of 'Misery' at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 15, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage) -
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET and features a diverse lineup of guests that include celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians and human interest subjects, along with comedy bits and a house band. The guests for Tuesday, June 10 included Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes ("SmartLess"), Bella Ramsey ("The Last of Us"), and musical guest HARDY. (Disney/Randy Holmes) SEAN HAYES, JASON BATEMAN, WILL ARNETT (Photo by Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images)
