Coronavirus USA Update: House Passes COVID-19 Relief Bill Hours After Trump Tweets Support

(Updates original article to include news of House passing the bill.)

The Congress passed early Saturday morning the coronavirus relief bill, which offers a multi-billion dollar package of relief measures for people affected by the rapid spread of COVID-19. The bill now heads to the Senate, which has cancelled its recess plans and is expected to take it up Monday itself.

The measure passed in an overwhelming 363-40 vote in the House, barely hours after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reached an agreement over it, ending days of rollercoaster negotiations.

The bill, which is aimed at assisting millions of Americans directly, is in addition to an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill already approved to curb the spread of the virus.

The bill contains a slew of measures for supporting those stricken by the coronavirus and its economic aftermath. CNN reported that the bill includes coronavirus testing for all who need it, including those without insurance; up to two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave; unemployment insurance for furloughed workers; and more money for Medicaid, among other measures.

The President tweeted Friday late evening: "I fully support H.R. 6201: Families First CoronaVirus Response Act, which will be voted on in the House this evening. This Bill will follow my direction for free CoronaVirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers."

Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke no fewer than 13 times by phone as they nogotiated over the bill, The Hill reported quoting their aides.

The bill is seen as a key test on whether lawmakers, who have been sharply divided over party lines after the failed impeachment of President Trump, could work together to support and help the American people in a time of grave crises.