Democrats say ‘last-minute’ package, expected to be scrambled through both chambers of Congress today, falls short of US needs

• Epidemiologist predicts second post-pandemic ‘roaring 20s’

As congressional leaders prepared to rush through a massive $900bn Covid-19 aid bill in just one day, holding out the promise of temporary relief to millions of struggling Americans, prominent Democrats asked why the deal took so long to reach yet still fell short of meeting the country’s dire needs.

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