Coronavirus update: Second stimulus may be more than $1,200 per person

The second round of coronavirus stimulus checks could go higher than $1,200, President Trump indicated Wednesday.

Speaking in Texas, the president indicated the next relief package could contain more money for individuals struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. When asked if the $1,200 payments from the first round were enough, Trump responded, “We’re going to see it may go higher than that, actually.”

“I’d like to see it be very high because I love the people, I want the people to get it, you know, the economy is going to come back,” Trump said. “We saved millions of lives but now we’re bringing (the economy) back … We gotta take care of the people in the meantime.”

The last round of stimulus checks provided $1,200 for individuals earning up to $75,000 with an additional $500 for dependent children. Couples earning up to $150,000 qualified for the full amount of $2,400. After that, payments drop based on income, capped at $99,000 for singles and $198,000 for couples.

The president didn’t indicate how much the future payments could be.

The next round of payments depends on a compromise being reached between the Senate and House and Republicans and Democrats – no easy feat. Time to reach a deal is running out. Unless it’s extended, this session of the Senate ends on Aug. 7.

Here are the latest coronavirus headlines:

California has broken its own record for the most coronavirus-related deaths reported in a single day.

The state reported 174 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, marking the third time this month California has broken a single-day record. The previous record was set on July 22 when 158 deaths were reported.

Since the first COVID case was reported in February, 8,716 Californians have died of coronavirus. The U.S. has recorded 149,000 COVID deaths.

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Gohmert, 66, is now the 10th member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus. His positive test came a day after he attended a meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr and other colleagues, Politico reported.

A spokesperson for Barr said the AG would be tested for COVID following his possible exposure.

Georgetown University announced it will start its fall semester online.

University President John DeGioia said new travel restrictions for Washington, D.C. that require people from coronavirus hotspots to quarantine for 14 days prompted the change.

All of the university’s undergraduate and graduate courses will start virtually, though select research projects will continue on campus. In-person courses will begin “as soon as health conditions permit,” DeGioia said.