The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed life for many people around the world. You might be attending school at home and keeping distance from other people. This will help prevent the virus from spreading. But what has happened to businesses in the United States? How has the government tried to help?
Many businesses closed to prevent spreading the virus. Some workers can do their jobs from their own homes, but this is not true for all workers. Some industries have shut down or their business has slowed. Not many people travel right now, for example, so the airlines and the airports don’t need as many workers. The slowdown of work can cause serious problems for workers and for businesses. How has the government helped?
The United States Congress passed a bill to help workers and businesses. It’s the largest relief bill in the history of the United States—2 trillion dollars! How does this bill help? Here are a few things that will help workers and businesses:
- People who lose their jobs will get extra money every week to make up for the pay that they lose.
- Industries will be able to get loans to help their businesses.
- Many people in the United States will get a check from the government to help them pay their bills.
- Hospitals will get extra money to treat people who have the virus.
- Businesses will get money for keeping people employed, even if they are working from home.
Government officials hope that these and other actions will lessen the impact of COVID-19 so that people don’t have to worry about paying their bills when they are also trying to stay healthy.
What Do You Think? How do you think the government should help workers and the places they work during a health crisis?
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