Don floats payroll tax cut
government.”
More than 3,500 people from 54 different countries were on the ship.
“I am just trying to go with the flow and be as cooperative as I can,” Bell said. “It’s a terrible situation.” He added that by Monday morning, fresh fruit and vegetables were “pretty much all used up” and “it’s clear the food is running out. We did not expect to be out beyond Saturday. We’re several days over that. They’re trying what they can to make it good. The crew is doing their best, working many more hours than they’re used to.”
Passengers who needed medical treatment and hospitalization were allowed
to disembark first after the ship docked in Oakland around noon, local time. They were to be taken to medical facilities in California.
Other passengers were allowed to leave after health screenings. California residents were to be taken to a federally operated facility in the state for testing and isolation. Nonresidents were to be transported to other states’ facilities, officials said.
Crew members were to be quarantined on the ship, but specific plans weren’t immediately clear.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said the process is expected to take several days.
“All of us at Princess Cruises offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the federal, state and local authorities who are coordinating, collaborating and activating resources and personnel in support of this response to provide care and attend to the health and well-being of our guests and crew,” Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.
President Trump said Monday evening that he will ask Congress to pass “major” payroll tax cuts and other stimulus measures to soften the economic blow of the coronavirus.
The president’s announcement came after Wall Street suffered its worst one-day plunge since the 2008 financial crisis amid mounting fears about a crash in oil prices as well as the spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19 respiratory virus, which has killed at least 22 people in the U.S. and infected more than 500.
“They will be very major,” Trump told reporters at the White House of the economic relief efforts he said his top aides will float to Republican congressional leaders on Tuesday.
Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of the stimulus package other than saying it will include enough aid to make sure “hourly wage earners” get “help so that they can be in a position where they’re never going to miss a paycheck” because of the virus.
“It’s not their fault. It’s not our country’s fault,” Trump said.
The president left the White House briefing room without taking any questions after saying he would share more information about the relief efforts at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
Vice President Mike Pence stayed behind and sought to downplay fears about the rapidly spreading virus.
“The risk remains Pence said.
Trump, whose bid for reelection is centered on the state of the U.S. economy, has baselessly claimed journalists are to blame for the sharp financial downturn caused by the virus. He has also repeatedly sought to downplay the severity of the virus despite the growing number of cases.
The president’s request for economic relief sharply contrasts with his initial reaction.
After the virus was first confirmed in the U.S., Trump asked Congress for $2.5 billion in emergency spending. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle said the request was woefully inadequate and instead approved an $8.3 billion emergency package that Trump signed. low,”