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| US coronavirus live: Senate votes to expand free testing and paid leave | US coronavirus live: Senate votes to expand free testing and paid leave |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Second coronavirus bill heads to Trump’s desk as US and Canada close border to non-essential traffic | Second coronavirus bill heads to Trump’s desk as US and Canada close border to non-essential traffic |
| Hi, there — this is Maanvi Singh, taking over from the West Coast. | |
| The New Yor Stock Exchange will temporarily switch to electronic trading starting on Monday. Floor trading will be suspended in order to protect everyone from the spread of coronavirus. | |
| “The decision to temporarily close the trading floors represents a precautionary step to protect the health and well-being of employees and the floor community in response to COVID-19,” said Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, which operates global exchanges and clearinghouses. | |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | |
| The Senate passed the second coronavirus bill, which expands paid sick leave and provides funding for free testing, on a vote of 90-8. It now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature. | |
| The Dow closed down more than 1,300 points, marking another dismal day for the markets as investors panic over the coronavirus crisis. With today’s drop, nearly all the stock market gains since Trump took office have been wiped out. | |
| Bernie Sanders’ campaign said he was assessing the path forward for his presidential bid, after Joe Biden completed a three-state sweep last night and moved closer toward securing the Democratic nomination. | |
| The US-Canadian border will be closed to all non-essential travel in the hope of mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the two countries had mutually agreed to the closure. | |
| Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | |
| Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke over the phone shortly after the president announced the US-Canadian border was being closed to non-essential travel. | |
| “The two leaders discussed the coronavirus pandemic and the close cooperation on efforts to combat the virus, including the agreement to reduce movement across the United States-Canada border to essential travel only,” the White House said in a statement. | |
| “President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau agreed it was important to preserve supply chains and trade, regardless of travel restrictions.” | |
| Before an event with nurses at the White House, Trump spoke to reporters about the “Chinese virus,” despite widespread criticism of his usage of that term to describe coronavirus. | Before an event with nurses at the White House, Trump spoke to reporters about the “Chinese virus,” despite widespread criticism of his usage of that term to describe coronavirus. |
| Trump said his press conference with FDA officials, which he previewed on Twitter earlier today, would take place tomorrow. “The FDA will be working very very hard, and I appreciate what they’re doing,” Trump said. | Trump said his press conference with FDA officials, which he previewed on Twitter earlier today, would take place tomorrow. “The FDA will be working very very hard, and I appreciate what they’re doing,” Trump said. |
| The president also said he was impressed by the “tremendous spirit” he was seeing in the country. | The president also said he was impressed by the “tremendous spirit” he was seeing in the country. |
| “Even Republicans and Democrats are getting together, for the most part, but they’re getting together,” said Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Democratic lawmakers amid the crisis. “So that’s a good thing to see.” | “Even Republicans and Democrats are getting together, for the most part, but they’re getting together,” said Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Democratic lawmakers amid the crisis. “So that’s a good thing to see.” |
| Eight Republican senators -- Marsha Blackburn, Jim Inhofe, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ben Sasse, Tim Scott and Ron Johnson -- voted against the second coronavirus bill. | Eight Republican senators -- Marsha Blackburn, Jim Inhofe, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ben Sasse, Tim Scott and Ron Johnson -- voted against the second coronavirus bill. |
| Some Republicans had raised objections about how the paid sick leave outlined in the bill could affect small businesses. | Some Republicans had raised objections about how the paid sick leave outlined in the bill could affect small businesses. |
| With the legislation passed, senators will now focus on the third coronavirus bill, a stimulus package that could end up costing more than $1 trillion. | With the legislation passed, senators will now focus on the third coronavirus bill, a stimulus package that could end up costing more than $1 trillion. |
| The Senate has just passed the second package aimed at combatting the coronavirus crisis, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. | The Senate has just passed the second package aimed at combatting the coronavirus crisis, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. |
| The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 90-8, will help expand free testing and provide American workers with paid leave if they are sick or need to self-quarantine. | The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 90-8, will help expand free testing and provide American workers with paid leave if they are sick or need to self-quarantine. |
| The bill will now head to Trump’s desk for his signature, and lawmakers will turn their attention to the third coronavirus package, aimed at bolstering the economy amid the crisis. | The bill will now head to Trump’s desk for his signature, and lawmakers will turn their attention to the third coronavirus package, aimed at bolstering the economy amid the crisis. |
| The Dow has officially closed down about 1,300 points, or 6%, after another bad day due to concerns about the coronavirus crisis. | The Dow has officially closed down about 1,300 points, or 6%, after another bad day due to concerns about the coronavirus crisis. |
| However, the Dow looked a bit better at the closing bell than it did earlier in the day, when it was down more than 2,000 points. | However, the Dow looked a bit better at the closing bell than it did earlier in the day, when it was down more than 2,000 points. |
| The steep losses led to a halt in trading, the fourth such pause in the past two weeks. | The steep losses led to a halt in trading, the fourth such pause in the past two weeks. |
| Today’s drop, combined with other recent losses, nearly wipes out all the stock market gains since Trump took office. | Today’s drop, combined with other recent losses, nearly wipes out all the stock market gains since Trump took office. |
| For more updates and analysis, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: | For more updates and analysis, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: |
| Bernie Sanders lashed out against a CNN reporter who asked him about the future of his presidential campaign after Joe Biden swept three contests last night. | Bernie Sanders lashed out against a CNN reporter who asked him about the future of his presidential campaign after Joe Biden swept three contests last night. |
| “I’m dealing with a fucking global crisis,” Sanders told CNN’s Manu Raju. “You know, we’re dealing with.” | “I’m dealing with a fucking global crisis,” Sanders told CNN’s Manu Raju. “You know, we’re dealing with.” |
| When Raju continued to press Sanders, the Vermont senator replied, “Well right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?” | When Raju continued to press Sanders, the Vermont senator replied, “Well right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?” |
| Sanders’ campaign said he is assessing his path forward as Biden has secured an arguably insurmountable delegate lead and more Democrats are calling on Sanders to drop out of the race. | Sanders’ campaign said he is assessing his path forward as Biden has secured an arguably insurmountable delegate lead and more Democrats are calling on Sanders to drop out of the race. |
| Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, the last remaining long-shot candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential campaign, is reportedly ending his campaign. | Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, the last remaining long-shot candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential campaign, is reportedly ending his campaign. |
| Weld’s announcement comes one day after Trump secured enough delegates in the Republican presidential primary to become the presumptive nominee. | Weld’s announcement comes one day after Trump secured enough delegates in the Republican presidential primary to become the presumptive nominee. |
| Weld had hoped to appeal to more moderate Republicans who have concerns about Trump, but the former governor won only 9% of the vote in New Hampshire. | Weld had hoped to appeal to more moderate Republicans who have concerns about Trump, but the former governor won only 9% of the vote in New Hampshire. |
| A few other Republican candidates, such as former congressman Joe Walsh and former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, similarly tried to challenge Trump, but none of them were able to shake the president’s lock on the party base. | A few other Republican candidates, such as former congressman Joe Walsh and former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, similarly tried to challenge Trump, but none of them were able to shake the president’s lock on the party base. |
| JPMorgan is now predicting the second quarter of this year could see the US economy slump by as much as 14% because of the coronavirus crisis. | JPMorgan is now predicting the second quarter of this year could see the US economy slump by as much as 14% because of the coronavirus crisis. |
| If the bank’s second-quarter prediction is accurate, it would mean that this year will see the worst three-month economic period in the US since World War II. | If the bank’s second-quarter prediction is accurate, it would mean that this year will see the worst three-month economic period in the US since World War II. |
| Joe Biden urged Americans to focus on Trump’s actions in response to the coronavirus crisis, rather than his tone. | Joe Biden urged Americans to focus on Trump’s actions in response to the coronavirus crisis, rather than his tone. |
| The Democratic presidential candidate’s warning comes as a number of commentators have noted Trump’s tone has become increasingly grim in recent days. | The Democratic presidential candidate’s warning comes as a number of commentators have noted Trump’s tone has become increasingly grim in recent days. |
| The president claimed on Sunday that his administration had “tremendous control” over the crisis. A day later, he acknowledged that no country has control over the virus right now. | The president claimed on Sunday that his administration had “tremendous control” over the crisis. A day later, he acknowledged that no country has control over the virus right now. |
| However, health experts have warned that the administration has already lost critical time in responding to the crisis. | However, health experts have warned that the administration has already lost critical time in responding to the crisis. |
| The Pentagon said the Comfort, one of the hospital ships designated to help with the coronavirus crisis, is receiving maintenance and will not be ready to go for weeks. | The Pentagon said the Comfort, one of the hospital ships designated to help with the coronavirus crisis, is receiving maintenance and will not be ready to go for weeks. |
| Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said officials are trying to expedite the maintenance process, so the Comfort can get to New York and provide hospital beds to the city as it battles coronavirus. | Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said officials are trying to expedite the maintenance process, so the Comfort can get to New York and provide hospital beds to the city as it battles coronavirus. |
| The Mercy, which is supposed to go to the west coast, will be ready much more quickly, Hoffman said. | The Mercy, which is supposed to go to the west coast, will be ready much more quickly, Hoffman said. |
| Both ships are expected to assist hospitals by taking some non-coronavirus cases and hopefully prevent a shortage of hospital beds. | Both ships are expected to assist hospitals by taking some non-coronavirus cases and hopefully prevent a shortage of hospital beds. |
| The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: | The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: |
| Puerto Rico has requested US authorities suspend national and international flights for two weeks - in a last ditch effort to lock down the carribean island and prevent localized spread of Covid-19. | Puerto Rico has requested US authorities suspend national and international flights for two weeks - in a last ditch effort to lock down the carribean island and prevent localized spread of Covid-19. |
| Governor Wanda Vázquez has also asked Federal Aviation Administrator, Stephen Marshall, to close all airports where local authorities aren’t screening incoming passengers and limit the air-strips where charter planes can land. | Governor Wanda Vázquez has also asked Federal Aviation Administrator, Stephen Marshall, to close all airports where local authorities aren’t screening incoming passengers and limit the air-strips where charter planes can land. |
| Puerto Rico, a US territory of 3.2 million people, has five confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 21 others currently awaiting test results. All five cases are linked to travel. The island’s overburdened healthcare system, weak sanitation system and aging population, make it vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. | Puerto Rico, a US territory of 3.2 million people, has five confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 21 others currently awaiting test results. All five cases are linked to travel. The island’s overburdened healthcare system, weak sanitation system and aging population, make it vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. |
| Today’s intervention is the latest in a series of dramatic measures since the weekend when Vázquez imposed a curfew from 9pm and 5am, and ordered all non-essential businesses to close until the end of March The island, which depends heavily on tourism, has suspended cruise ships from docking, and is screening incoming passengers at its main international airport in the capital San Juan. | Today’s intervention is the latest in a series of dramatic measures since the weekend when Vázquez imposed a curfew from 9pm and 5am, and ordered all non-essential businesses to close until the end of March The island, which depends heavily on tourism, has suspended cruise ships from docking, and is screening incoming passengers at its main international airport in the capital San Juan. |