Another grim milestone was reached as the pandemic death toll in the U.S. surpassed 150,000, by far the highest in the world, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. Over a half-million people have died in the rest of the world.
Congressman Infected
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Capitol officials have issued broad new mask requirements after Republican Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert tested positive for the virus.
Gohmert often shunned wearing masks and was known to vote without one. Pelosi announced that all members will be required to wear a mask when voting. An order was also issued that everyone in House office buildings will have to wear masks inside, with few exceptions, Alan Fram and Mary Clare Jalonick report.
Cratering U.S. Economy
Having suffered what was surely a record-shattering slump last quarter, the economy faces a further dim outlook as a resurgent coronavirus intensifies doubts about the likelihood of any sustained recovery the rest of the year.
A huge plunge in consumer spending is estimated to have sent the economy sinking at a roughly 32% annual rate in the April-June quarter. That would be roughly triple the previous record contraction in 1958.
The Wall St. Bull is seen standing on a nearly empty Broadway in the financial district, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in New York City, New York, U.S., March 23, 2020.
Mike Segar | Reuters
Today, the government will issue its first of three estimates of economic activity for the second quarter, as measured by the gross domestic product, Martin Crutsinger reports.
Weekly numbers for those seeking unemployment benefits in the U.S. will be released at the same time today, 08:30 a.m. Eastern.
@ AP
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Source: Vietnam Insider