Senate Unveils Stimulus Plan As Global Coronavirus Deaths Top 10,000

As Americans adjust to life in the time of COVID-19, lawmakers in the Senate have unveiled a $1 trillion stimulus plan that would see checks being sent directly to Americans. Officials in California ordered the state's nearly 40 million residents to stay-at-home, as the number of infections in the United States continued to increase. According to the latest data collected by Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 14,000 confirmed cases reported by health officials nationwide with 205 deaths reported in the U.S. alone.

The number of recovered patients reached 121 as of Friday morning.

Globally, the number of infections has reached at least 246,000 with the global death toll reaching 10,038, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus map.

Here is your #COVID19 update for Friday, March 20.

Senate Unveils Stimulus Plan That Could See Checks Sent to Americans

Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled a $1 trillion economic stimulus plan meant to cushion some of the economic damage being wrought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One of the proposals in the Republican plan would be direct cash payments made to Americans as businesses are forced to close and work begins drying up.

According to the plan rolled out by lawmakers, the U.S. Treasury would send two separate payments of $1,200 to individuals making up to $75,000 and $2,400 for couples who make up to $150,000. The checks would be sent by April 6 and May 18. Individuals and couples would also be eligible for $500 per child.

For those making over $75,000, the amount of the check would be reduced and phase out completely for those making up to $99,000. Couples who make a combined income more than $150,000 would also see their amount reduced with checks phasing out for those who make more than $198,000.

Checks would be reduced to $600 (or $1,200 for married individuals) for those taxpayers who have at least $2,500 in qualifying income. Income levels would be determined by a taxpayer's 2018 tax returns.

The $1 trillion stimulus plan also provides $200 billion in loans to airlines and other industries that have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Another $300 billion has been set aside for forgivable bridge loans for small businesses and private organizations. The bridge loans must be used to pay salaries, mortgage payments, debt obligations, as well as payroll support for paid sick, medical, and family leave, as well as health benefits.

Trump Administration Working to Place Limits on Travel Between U.S and Mexico

As the coronavirus continues to spread across North America, the Trump administration is planning to enact new travel restrictions between the U.S. and Mexico, similar to those put in place on Canada earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday.

Pompeo tweeted that he'd been in close contact with Mexico Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on travel restrictions that "balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of #COVID19."

"Together we can reduce public heath risks and prioritize essential cross-border commerce and trade," Pompeo wrote.

Mexico has reported at least 118 infections of the novel coronavirus, with at least 1 person having died, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Some Beaches Closed to Spring Breakers in Florida Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Spring break is all but over in Florida after several Florida county officials banded together to close their local beaches in an effort to discourage people from congregating amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties were joined by the City of Tampa in closing their beaches even as spring breakers have flocked to the area. In Brevard County, officials have closed the beach parking lots along 72 miles of shoreline.

Florida Senator Rick Scott again tried to discourage people, especially the younger ones who were there to party it up during spring break, to stay away from the beach and practice social distancing.

"Get off the beach. Unless you can figure out how to completely be isolated from anybody else, I mean individuals have got to take responsibility," Scott said. "Every level of government has got to be very clear – don’t be on the beach unless you can somehow be completely by yourself."

As of Thursday, Florida has reported 390 total cases of the disease, with eight fatalities.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has already issued an order prohibiting gatherings on beaches of 10 people or more. However, many millennials who have already traveled to the state, have been seen in viral videos online disregarding those warnings. One video showed several Spring Breakers' casual attitude toward the virus, saying they plan to keep partying.

No New Cases in China For Second Day

One bright spot of news has been reported - China's health officials said that no new cases have been detected for the second day in a row. However, officials did report an additional 39 new imported cases - all of which came from overseas. It's also the second day that no new cases have been reported in the Hubei province, where COVID-19 is thought to have originated.

According to the country's National Health Commission, the total number of infections has reached 80,967, with the death toll at 3,248.

Senators Reportedly Sold Large Quantities of Stocks Ahead of Economic Crash

According to a report from ProPublica, Sens. Richard Burr (R-S.C.) and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga), sold off a significant amount of stock shortly before the markets plummeted amid the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to their positions, both senators were reported to have had advanced knowledge about the spread of COVID-19 before they sold their stocks.

Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, sold somewhere between $628,000 and $1.72 million worth of stocks, with much of his portfolio in the hospitality industry. According to records of the transaction from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the sales were made in 33 separate transactions on Feb. 13. Burr sold $150,000 worth of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts stock, and another $100,000 shares of Extended Stay America.

According to a report in NPR, on Feb. 27, Burr attended a luncheon in which he told people that the coronavirus was "much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history."

“Senator Burr filed a financial disclosure form for personal transactions made several weeks before the U.S. and financial markets showed signs of volatility due to the growing coronavirus outbreak,” Burr's spokesperson told ProPublica. “As the situation continues to evolve daily, he has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy.”

Burr also slammed NPR's report in a series of tweets, calling it a "tabloid-style hit piece."

"NPR knowingly and irresponsibly misrepresented a speech I gave last month about the coronavirus threat.," Burr wrote. "This lunch was hosted on Feb. 27 by the North Carolina State Society. It was publicly advertised and widely attended. NPR knew, but did not report, that attendees also included many non-members, bipartisan congressional staff, and representatives from the governor’s office."

"Unfortunately, NPR’s journalistic malpractice has raised concerns that Americans weren’t warned about the significant steps we may have to take to stop the coronavirus threat. That’s not true."

"The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased: Be prepared."

About a week after Burr dumped his stocks, the stock market began experiencing its worst decline since the 2008 financial crisis.

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.