US Congress passes $484bn coronavirus economic relief bill

The US Congress has passed a new Covid-19 relief package totalling $484bn (£391bn), the fourth aid bill to clear Congress in response to the pandemic.

The legislation, approved 388-5 by the House of Representatives, tops up a small business aid fund, while funding hospitals and testing.

President Donald Trump said he would enact the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.

The US has over 845,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 46,800 deaths.

Last month, Washington enacted the largest economic stimulus package in US history, with $2 trillion in coronavirus aid.

Thursday's bill will bring the total federal spending on Covid-19 relief up to $3tn, swelling the US budget deficit towards record levels.

(Source: BBC)