Coronavirus Update: First child death recorded in U.S., Congress struggles to get money to America

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Tuesday confirmed the death of an individual less than 18-years-old. The fatality marks the first child death from coronavirus recorded in the U.S.

The number of reported coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. reached a single-day high Monday of 100-plus, as lawmakers try to balance health precautions with keeping the U.S. economy from collapse. 

“We need to listen to public health experts first,” Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons told MSNBC early Tuesday. 

His comments come amid President Trump and other U.S. leaders publicly acknowledging the challenges they face in trying to achieve the best public good, as the virus spreads and the U.S. economy suffers from virus-related shutdowns.

“Our country wasn’t built to be shut down,” Trump said Monday night. 

However, public health officials say the number of reported cases will increase, in part because of more testing, and support the shelter-in-place orders in cities and states across the country.

The number of cases worldwide Tuesday is 387,382, including 16,767 deaths. The U.S. totals are 43,530 cases and 540 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. 

Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to try to strike a deal on a third coronavirus spending package. The projected $1.8 trillion measure in the Republican-controlled Senate has failed twice this week to pass a preliminary vote, just to officially begin debate. The Democrat-controlled House has a competing bill.