Trump Signs $7.8 Billion Virus Bill After Infections Increase

  • Measure seen as down payment on coronavirus response
  • Bill lets government regulate vaccine price without hard cap
Donald Trump signs a coronavirus funding bill at the White House on March 6.Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images
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President Donald Trump signed a $7.8 billion emergency coronavirus spending bill on Friday after the number of infections continued to rise and stocks tumbled.

The amount of money provided in the legislation far exceeds Trump’s original request -- $1.25 billion in new funds and another $1.25 billion from other government social and health programs. Lawmakers said they expect Congress will have to provide more emergency funding before the virus outbreak subsides.