U.S. House passes coronavirus bill funding free tests, sick leave

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) turns to leave after delivering a statement on a coronavirus economic aid package ahead of a vote on the legislation in the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus aid package early on Saturday that would provide free testing and paid sick leave, in a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has shuttered schools, sports arenas and offices.

By a bipartisan vote of 363 to 40, the Democratic-controlled House passed a multi-billion dollar effort that would expand safety-net programs to help those who could be thrown out of work in the weeks to come.