Coronavirus: US wants to send money to citizens as an economic stimulus

The Secretary of the Treasury United States , Steven Mnuchin , announced on Tuesday, 17, the government is considering transferring money directly to American citizens as a measure to stimulate consumption and contain the fall in the economy due to the pandemic of new coronavirus , which has reached at least 110 countries on five continents - in the United States, according to the New York Times estimate , there are more than 5,000 sick and at least 86 dead.

"President [ Donald Trump ] has instructed me to do this now," said Mnuchin - the transfers are due to take place in the next two weeks. Trump did not specify the amount to be allocated to each American. According to the CBS broadcaster, Republican senators Tom Cotton and Mitt Romney believe the figure should be around $ 1,000 per adult.

The move is part of a $ 850 billion package that is being discussed in Congress as a way to prevent the pandemic from leading to a recession in the American economy. Trump admitted on Monday 16 the possibility of a recession (two quarters in a row of a slump in the economy): "Well, it could be," he said.

According to Goldman Sachs bank estimates, American economic activity is expected to grow less than 1% in this first quarter of 2020, and fall 5% in the second.

As part of the $ 850 billion package, Mnuchin also said that Americans can postpone debt payments of up to $ 1 million with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the IRS. The companies will be able to postpone debts of up to 10 million dollars with the tax authorities.

The airline industry is also expected to benefit from the $ 50 billion package. In terms of the economic impact of the new coronavirus on aviation companies, Mnuchin said the situation "is worse than 9/11". Trump has yet to rule out the possibility of restrictions on domestic travel.