As President Trump rejected a $900 billion bipartisan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-may-already-have-new-covid-19-strain-in-the-us-researchers-claim-351829">COVID-19</a> stimulus package, the number of infected cases due to the virus in America rose to over 18.2 million.

Watch:

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The US President had said the package was "a disgrace" as he asked Congress to amend the bill and increase the "ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple."

"I'm also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and just send me a suitable bill," Trump said.

The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 322,8400 fatalities. As the number of cases grows, the Trump administration ordered additional 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden said he will ask Congress for another COVID-19 relief bill when he takes office. "There's a clear understanding that these issues go beyond any ideology. People are desperately hurting and the Republicans are hurting as badly as Democrats," Biden asserted.

"Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year," Biden said, adding,"this bill is just a first step -- a down payment -- on addressing the crisis we're in. We have a lot more work to do."

"This is life and death. That's why I believe we'll get it done."

"We need to work in a bipartisan way," he said, adding: "That's the only way we're going to get through this."

The US government has now ordered 400 million doses of the vaccine -- half from Pfizer-BioNTech and half from Moderna.

The US department said: "Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, 2021, with the balance of the 100 million doses to be delivered no later than July 31, 2021," adding,"also includes options for an additional 400 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine."

The US government intends to first vaccinate frontline essential workers including teachers, grocery store employees and police including people 75 and older.

Health secretary Alex Azar said: "This new federal purchase can give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021."

As President Trump rejected a $900 billion bipartisan COVID-19 stimulus package, the number of infected cases due to the virus in America rose to over 18.2 million.

As President Trump rejected a $900 billion bipartisan COVID-19 stimulus package, the number of infected cases due to the virus in America rose to over 18.2 million. Watch: The US President had said the package was "a disgrace" as he asked Congress to amend the bill and increase the "ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple." "I'm also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and just send me a suitable bill," Trump said. The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 322,8400 fatalities. As the number of cases grows, the Trump administration ordered additional 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden said he will ask Congress for another COVID-19 relief bill when he takes office. "There's a clear understanding that these issues go beyond any ideology. People are desperately hurting and the Republicans are hurting as badly as Democrats," Biden asserted. "Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year," Biden said, adding,"this bill is just a first step -- a down payment -- on addressing the crisis we're in. We have a lot more work to do." "This is life and death. That's why I believe we'll get it done." "We need to work in a bipartisan way," he said, adding: "That's the only way we're going to get through this." The US government has now ordered 400 million doses of the vaccine -- half from Pfizer-BioNTech and half from Moderna. The US department said: "Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, 2021, with the balance of the 100 million doses to be delivered no later than July 31, 2021," adding,"also includes options for an additional 400 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine." The US government intends to first vaccinate frontline essential workers including teachers, grocery store employees and police including people 75 and older. Health secretary Alex Azar said: "This new federal purchase can give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021."

As Trump rejects COVID-19 stimulus package, US orders another 100 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses

The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus’ heavy toll, both sides said on Saturday, after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired.

“This was the longest meeting we had and it was more productive than the other meetings,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “There are many issues that are still very much outstanding.”

Schumer made the remarks after he and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the Capitol on Saturday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nancy-pelosi-declines-deal-on-coronavirus-unemployment-aid-talks-to-continue-on-saturday-317378">Also read:&nbsp;Nancy Pelosi declines deal on coronavirus unemployment aid; talks to continue on Saturday</a>

Mnuchin told reporters the talks were constructive but had reached an “impasse” over whether to come to a short-term agreement or a more comprehensive deal.

The officials will meet again on Monday, after their staff meet on Sunday, Schumer said.

Congress for the past several months has been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression.

In a meeting late Thursday between top White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders, negotiations focused on an extension of the $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits that Americans who lost jobs due to the pandemic have been receiving in addition to state jobless payments.

Pelosi said on Friday that she rejected an offer by Republican President Donald Trump’s administration to continue the $600 payments for one more week.

Congressional Democrats want to see the weekly payments extended into next year as part of a broader package.

Senate Republicans have said the $600 payments are an incentive to stay home rather than return to work. Their proposal would provide a much-reduced weekly payment of $200 until states create a system to provide a 70% wage replacement for laid-off workers.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Saturday slammed Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for letting the Senate go home for the weekend without a deal to extend the unemployment benefits or protect renters facing eviction.

“Because Donald Trump is abdicating his responsibility to lead us out of the pandemic crisis and the economic crisis, we now face a potential housing crisis across the country,” Biden said in a statement.

Pelosi told House Democrats in a letter late on Saturday that “all parties must understand the gravity of the situation in order to reach an agreement that protects Americans’ lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy.”

The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus’ heavy toll, both sides said on Saturday, after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired.

The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus’ heavy toll, both sides said on Saturday, after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired. “This was the longest meeting we had and it was more productive than the other meetings,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “There are many issues that are still very much outstanding.” Schumer made the remarks after he and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the Capitol on Saturday. Also read: Nancy Pelosi declines deal on coronavirus unemployment aid; talks to continue on Saturday Mnuchin told reporters the talks were constructive but had reached an “impasse” over whether to come to a short-term agreement or a more comprehensive deal. The officials will meet again on Monday, after their staff meet on Sunday, Schumer said. Congress for the past several months has been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression. In a meeting late Thursday between top White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders, negotiations focused on an extension of the $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits that Americans who lost jobs due to the pandemic have been receiving in addition to state jobless payments. Pelosi said on Friday that she rejected an offer by Republican President Donald Trump’s administration to continue the $600 payments for one more week. Congressional Democrats want to see the weekly payments extended into next year as part of a broader package. Senate Republicans have said the $600 payments are an incentive to stay home rather than return to work. Their proposal would provide a much-reduced weekly payment of $200 until states create a system to provide a 70% wage replacement for laid-off workers. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Saturday slammed Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for letting the Senate go home for the weekend without a deal to extend the unemployment benefits or protect renters facing eviction. “Because Donald Trump is abdicating his responsibility to lead us out of the pandemic crisis and the economic crisis, we now face a potential housing crisis across the country,” Biden said in a statement. Pelosi told House Democrats in a letter late on Saturday that “all parties must understand the gravity of the situation in order to reach an agreement that protects Americans’ lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy.”

Congressional Democrats, White House still at impasse over coronavirus bill

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