https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/04/u-s-congress-approves-8-3-billion-in-emergency-funding-for-coronavirus-response/ > Congress on Wednesday approved $8.3 billion in emergency funding to respond to the spreading novel coronavirus, COVID-19, which has already sickened eighty people across thirteen states and killed nine in the U.S. alone. > More than $3 billion of that funding will go to the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics — and some of that financing will likely find its way into the coffers of startup companies working on technologies to combat the disease.