Welcome to The Hill’s daily roundup of coronavirus news.
As of Thursday afternoon, there are 856,209 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 47,272 deaths. About 4.5 million people have been tested for the new coronavirus — that’s 1.37 percent of the population.
Here’s what else you need to know today.
Congress and the administration
- The House has approved a $484 billion bill to replenish funding for a small-business loan program and shore up hospitals. The measure was approved in a 388-5 vote with one member voting president, and will now go to the White House for President Trump’s signature. Here is our story on the vote, and here are five things to know about the legislation from Sylvan.
- The House also voted along party lines to create a select committee to examine the response to the coronavirus crisis. Cristina Marcos on the vote.
- House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) is calling for an inspector general investigation after a top vaccine official said he was forced out for favoring science over political considerations. Nathaniel Weixel reports.
- Anthony Fauci said the U.S. needs to “significantly ramp up” its testing capability and said the country needs at least 3 million tests per week, up from about one million currently. Peter Sullivan reports.
- The coronavirus is touching the lives of members of Congress. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) oldest brother has died of COVID-19. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said her sister is dying in a hospital in St. Louis from a COVID-19 infection.
- The U.S. is starting to shift its World Health Organizations to other health groups, an escalation of the fight President Trump has picked with the group. Laura Kelly reports.
- More than 4.4 million Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week as the nation continues to lockdown over the coronavirus. More than 26 million people have no applied for those benefits since March. Sylvan Lane has the story here.
In the states
- New York on Thursday published results of its preliminary antibody testing, and the results were startling. As many as 2.7 million people in the state tested positive for antibodies, meaning they may have been infected with the coronavirus and survived. Officials have said widespread antibody testing is one of the key components of reopening the country safely, as experts believe that people who have had COVID-19 are now likely immune to it. But the true value of the tests is still unknown. Jessie Hellmann has more here.
- Several governors took issue with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s assertion that states should declare bankruptcy rather than receive federal help to fill budget holes caused by the coronavirus response. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that is “one of the really dumb ideas of all time.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said McConnell’s comments were “incredibly irresponsible.”
- Some states are preparing to slowly ease COVID-19 restrictions. Montana will allow places of worship and retail businesses to reopen soon but they must meet strict physical distancing requirements. Maryland will reopen some businesses based on their risk levels, but Gov. Larry Hogan (R) did not provide a timeline. Whitmer said she will have announcements soon on the possibility of reopening businesses that pose “very little risk.”