US President Donald Trump has signed a multi-billion emergency aid package to help Americans mitigate the adverse economic impact of coronavirus. The bill, called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, includes provisions offering paid sick leave for impacted workers and free COVID-19 testing.

It also boosts unemployment insurance, food assistance and federal funding for Medicaid as part of an ongoing effort by the US government to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said in a statement yesterday that he has signed into law H.R. 6201, the ‘Families First Coronavirus Response Act’.  The Act makes emergency supplemental appropriations and other changes to law to help the Nation respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
Passed by the House of Representatives and Senate, the act is designed to bolster the federal government’s response to the COVID- 19 outbreak. It will also address the impacts the virus is having on Americans’ health and financial security.

According to the White House, the act ensures that American families and businesses impacted by the virus receive the strong support they need.  This legislation provides strong economic assistance to American businesses, workers, and families, alleviating financial burdens experienced by those affected by the virus.

The bill offers free coronavirus testing irrespective of Economic status and eligible workers who are sick with the virus, quarantined, taking care of someone affected or caring for a child whose school has closed, will continue to be paid.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States now has at least 8,736 cases of the coronavirus and 149 deaths.