Coronavirus relief bill hits snag in U.S. Senate, talks continue

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin heads to a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after meeting with Senate Republicans, in Washington, U.S., March 21, 2020. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Partisan battles in the U.S. Senate stopped a $1 trillion-plus coronavirus response bill from advancing on Sunday, but talks continued over Democrats' demands for more funding for medical care and state and local efforts to combat the pandemic.

The measure failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to clear a procedural hurdle after days of negotiations, with 47 senators voting in favour and 47 opposed.