Republicans say the virus fight may cost the economy too much – Sydney Morning Herald

Asked if he would extend current guidelines on social distancing if it was recommended by public health experts, Trump said: "If it were up to the doctors, theyd say lets keep it shut down, lets shut down the entire world ... We cant do that."

Trump launched the federal government's "15 days to slow the spread" campaign last week, advising Americans to limit social gatherings to 10 people, work from home and avoid discretionary travel.

In a late-night Twitter stream, he retweeted several posts advocating letting the guidelines lapse at the end of the 15-day period.

"The fear of the virus cannot collapse our economy that President Trump has built up," one of Trump's retweeted posts said. "The People are smart enough to keep away from others if we know that we are sick or they are sick! After 15 days are over the world can begin to heal!"

Trump also retweeted a post saying "Flatten the curve NOT the Economy" and another saying: "15 days, then we keep the high risk groups protected as necessary and the rest of us go back to work."

In an appearance on Fox News, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, 69, said: "No one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance for your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?

"And if thats the exchange, Im all in."

Patrick, who is essentially the state's vice-governor, continued: "I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me - I have six grandchildren - that, what we all care about, and what we love more than anything are those children. And I want to live smart and see through this but I dont want the whole country to be sacrificed."

Speaking on Fox News White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said: "The President is right. The cure can't be worse than the disease. And we're going to have to make some difficult trade-offs."

The toughest measures to prevent the spread of the virus - such as stay-at-home orders and closures of non-essential businesses - have all been taken by state governors and mayors, rather than the federal government.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.Credit:AP

But if the Trump administration were to soften or remove its guidelines, it could embolden Republican-controlled states to avoid taking action and discourage conservative Americans from practising social distancing.

Confirmed coronavirus cases continue to rise in the US as testing becomes more widely available. At least 500 people have died from the illness and over 43,000 people have tested positive.

Democrats and Republicans have still not been able to agree on the final form of a massive economic rescue package that remains stuck in the Senate. On Monday afternoon (Tuesday AEDT) Democrats again voted to block the bill from proceeding to a vote.

Democrats particularly oppose what they are calling a $US500 billion ($845 billion) "slush fund" that would be under control of the US Treasury Secretary.

Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said he was "very close" to reaching a deal with the Trump administration on what would be the "largest emergency funding bill in American history".

"Our goal is to reach a deal today," he said.

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Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell slammed his Democratic Senate colleagues.

"They out to be embarrassed," he said.

"This is not a juicy political opportunity, this is a national emergency... The country doesn't have time for these political games."

The cost of the Senate bill is currently $US1.6 trillion and that amount is likely to grow even larger as negotiations continue.

Matthew Knott is North America correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

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Republicans say the virus fight may cost the economy too much - Sydney Morning Herald