House prepares to vote on $2 trillion stimulus bill as US ranks No. 1 in world for COVID-19 cases

As the House of Representatives prepared Thursday to vote on the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or “CARES Act” this morning, Johns Hopkins University ranked the U.S. in the unenviable position of No. 1 country in the world for confirmed cases of COVID-19, at 83,507 cases compared with China’s 81,782 and Italy’s 80,589.

The World Health Organization as of Thursday evening still positioned the U.S. in the No. 3 slot, with 63,570 cases, behind Italy (74,386), at No. 2, and China at the top (81,861).

Meanwhile, the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living weighed in on the Senate’s Wednesday passage of the CARES Act, with a desire that the House follow suit “swiftly” so funds can be deployed as soon as possible.

“We appreciate the many items in the Senate stimulus bill that will be helpful for long-term care providers, including the loans for small businesses, the funds supporting increased health care resources and medical supplies, and the support for child care, which will greatly support our caregivers on the frontlines,” AHCA / NCAL Senior Vice President of Government Relations Clifton Porter II said.

Porter said the CARES Act is a “first step” to supporting operators and caregivers. “This bill is critical during this time, but more help will likely be needed so that we can provide the best quality care for our residents,” he said.

AHCA / NCAL launched a new video series on Wednesday to answer questions about COVID-19. Featuring President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Parkinson, the videos will be posted on the organization’s Facebook page.

In other coronavirus-related news:

• A newly published study bolstered the benefits of social distancing, estimating that 90% of coronavirus infections in Hubei province, China, were prevented by the practice.
• The Joint Commission has issued three FAQs related to COVID-19: Personal Protective Equipment — Mask Considerations When Caring for Known or Suspected COVID-19 Patients; Emergency Management — Duration for Continuing Disaster Privileges; and Personal Protective Equipment; and Conserving Facemasks and Respirators During a Critical Shortage.