The US Congress has passed a nearly $500 billion Covid-19 aid package, as House Democrats voted to set up a panel to look into the administration’s handling of the outbreak – a move blasted as “purely political” by the GOP.

The relief bill passed overwhelmingly after hours of debate on Thursday, securing the needed two-thirds majority. The aid package will immediately infuse $321 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure companies can pay their workers, while providing another $75 billion to hospitals, $60 billion in emergency loans for small businesses and $25 billion set aside for coronavirus testing.

Observing strict safety protocols, the representatives cast their votes in groups of about 60 at a time, with lawmakers waiting in their offices to be called in alphabetical order to avoid potentially spreading the lethal virus around the chamber.

House members today will come into the chamber in staggered groups to vote on emergency legislation to provide funding for small businesses and hospitals. pic.twitter.com/0e0MD5EEqM

— Mitchell Miller (@mmillerwtop) April 23, 2020

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Source: RT