TRUMP PURSUING $1.2-TRILLION STIMULUS PACKAGE.

WASHINGTON As the city streets in the United States emptied after stepped-up warnings about the coronavirus threat, the Trump administration pursued on Tuesday a $1.2 trillion stimulus package to buttress the economy and mulled sending Americans $1,400 cheques within two weeks.

With the number of reported U.S. cases of the respiratory illness surging past 5,200 and deaths approaching 100, millions of Americans hunkered down in their homes instead of commuting to work or school as New York and other major cities escalated “social distancing” policies by closing schools, bars, restaurants and theatres.

Vice-president Mike Pence, at a news conference with President Donald Trump, said the White House was preparing for possibly having the U.S. military establish field hospitals in virus hot zones if requested by state governors, or using the Army Corps of Engineers to add capacity to existing hospitals.

In one of the most restrictive policies to date, officials in six San Francisco Bay Area counties ordered residents to stay home beginning on Tuesday for all but the most crucial outings until April 7. The order applies to some 6.7 million people.

New York, Washington state and California have the most confirmed cases.

Sounding optimistic, Trump predicted the hard-hit U.S. economy would “come roaring back” when the coronavirus spread slows and that progress is being made against the pathogen.