Arizona National Guard troops distribute food, Tuesday, April 21, in Sun City during the coronavirus pandemic.
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READ MORE: Arizona National Guard troops are continuing their support of community programs. Among their activities, distribution of goods at food banks and other locations, including a a senior center this week in Sun City, Arizona near Phoenix.
Arizona is reporting 5,459 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 229 deaths. Gov. Doug Ducey is considering when to reopen the state economy, which has essentially been shut down since he issued a stay-at-home order on March 30. Schools, bars, restaurants and movie theaters have been closed since mid-March, and more than 342,000 people have filed for unemployment benefits in the past month.
The stay-at-home order expires late next week, but the Republican governor could extend it. He's said he's going to rely on data from federal and state health experts to make his decision.
The U.S. Congress is set to pass a $484 billion interim aid bill Thursday, providing stop-gap funding for the $2 trillion CARES Act, the largest relief package in U.S. history. But even six weeks of record spending from the U.S. government has not been enough to contain the damage the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted on the nation’s economy and public health sector.
The COVID-19 emergency lockdown has forced millions of Americans into applying for unemployment or waiting in line at food banks, while small business owners question whether they'll ever reopen their doors. Here's an overview of what U.S. lawmakers say is needed in the next major aid package intended to restart the economy. (VOA/AP)
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