which cost nearly £40 billion but mps says "hasn't had a clear impact". and the fallout from the royal interview continues. the tv presenter piers morgan says he stands by his criticism of meghan markle after he quit his own tv show — due to thousands of complaints. we begin in the us, where the house of representatives, the lower house of congress, is expected to pass a major stimulus package. it is worth $1.9 trillion. the plan was approved in the senate on saturday despite every republican voting against. here are the pictures from the house of representatives. it very much locate will pass on party lines. before the vote, there was a debate for several hours. this is what we heard from one democratic congresswoman. this is a historic day. it is the beginning of the end of the great covid depression. it also marks the end of a decades—long successful battle by big corporations and the super—rich in this country for trickle—down economics. the idea that the rich getting richer will somehow make us all do better — wrong. the bill's aim is primarily to address the impact of covid on the us economy. but there are broader ambitions to tackle longer—term causes of poverty. here are some of the details. the so—called american rescue package will give one—off payments worth $1,400 to most americans. it allocates $350 billion to state and local governments and $130 billion to schools. it also provides $49 billion for expanded covid—19 testing and research, as well as $14 billion for vaccine distribution. and the bill extends unemployment benefits of $300 a week until september. millions of americans had been set to lose their benefits in the coming weeks — not any more. so a huge moment for the us economy and an important political moment for president biden. here's our business correspondent samira hussain in new york. remember that we're only at the very beginning of the biden administration. he only took office in late january, so it's really pretty incredible to see that the president has already been able to sort of wield some of his power to get such a spending package through congress. this is not the first stimulus package to support people through the pandemic. there were two last year. in march, congress passed the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill known as the cares act. then in december, there was a further $900 billion package. that took us debt to $28 trillion. this new bill will increase that figure to almost $30 trillion. so, a lot of money into the economy and a lot of debt too. republicans say too much. here's one. this bill takes aggregate, so—called covid relief spending to $6 trillion to alleviate an estimated $300 billion in lost wages. this is 20 times the spending compared to the lost wages. what's next? this is not even the beginning of the end of the democrats�* insatiable desire to spend their citizens into financial ruin. only 9% of the 1.9 trillion is even related to covid relief, while 91% is for pet democrat projects. so democrats argue the spending is vital, republicans say it's too costly. here's samira hussain on how the stock markets have reacted. all of this money is being pumped into the us economy, so if you look at the stock market in the last few days, they've been touching record highs. and a big part of that has to do with all of this money that's coming into the economy. that's going to speed up this economic recovery and that ultimately is good news for stocks across the board. 0nce once we get that final vote results in the house of representatives, it will then go tojoe biden�*s desk for the presidential signature. it's here from the white house press secretary on what is coming next. the president, the vice president, the first lady, the second gentleman, a number of members of the cabinet will be communicating directly with the american people and also need a clear message — help is on the way. 0ver and also need a clear message — help is on the way. over the next few weeks, we are going to swiftly put in place implementation plans, i have touched on a little bit of that, and plans to get aid to the people to the people who needed the most as quickly as possible. let’s most as quickly as possible. let's hear from — most as quickly as possible. let's hear from gary — most as quickly as possible. let's hear from gary o'donoghue on most as quickly as possible. let's hear from gary 0'donoghue on capitol hill for some give us your reading of where we have got to with this and how it matters politically to the president. it and how it matters politically to the president.— the president. it matters enormously, _ the president. it matters enormously, i— the president. it matters enormously, i think, - the president. it matters enormously, ithink, it. the president. it matters enormously, i think, it is the president. it matters - enormously, ithink, it is his the president. it matters - enormously, i think, it is his first big legislative hurdle, isn't it? he put a lot of stock by getting it through. he wanted to do that in a bipartisan way and it doesn't look like he is going to be able to do that, looks like there will be no republican votes in either chamber, as things stand at the moment, but he has got it and it is an enormous meta— money, as you were saying, it does increase the debt. the american national dealt now well north of 100% of gdp. but these things, they argue, are vital, notjust for getting specific covid relief out such as vaccinations and research and all that kind of thing but also for getting americans, frankly, spending money again, spending money in the economy, to try and kick—start some kind of recovery and thatis kick—start some kind of recovery and that is why a lot of this money is being directed at perhaps power households, partly because timecodes argue they need it, they are the most under pressure, but also they are the most likely to spend it. and, gary, iwas are the most likely to spend it. and, gary, i was mentioning this is now the third stimulus package in the last 12 months. is it the argument of the democrats that they think it will be the last one? it is funn , a think it will be the last one? it is funny. a lot _ think it will be the last one? it is funny. a lot of— think it will be the last one? it 3 funny, a lot of people have think it will be the last one? it 1 funny, a lot of people have been saying it is number six since this time last year, depending on how you count this thing and you're looking at $5.5 trillion help spent on the pandemic in total over the last year, and ask for a near amount of money. 0ne year, and ask for a near amount of money. one step put it in terms of... there is hope this will be perhaps the last big hall. democrats do want to move on to other things, particularly like infrastructure spending. there will be battling over that in particular, but i would be surprised if they want to revisit this in any kind of enormous way. that is all with the proviso, of course, that the current trajectory of tackling the pandemic, of getting vaccines into people's arms, that is all providing that continuous. gary. all providing that continuous. gary, for the moment, _ all providing that continuous. gary, for the moment, thank _ all providing that continuous. gary, for the moment, thank you - all providing that continuous. gary, for the moment, thank you very - all providing that continuous. gary, for the moment, thank you very much indeed. we will be back with gary later on in the programme. let's turn now to brazil. it has the second highest death toll in the world from coronavirus behind the us. and the situation is worse than ever. deaths and cases are increasing rapidly. on tuesday, the health ministry recorded 1,972 new deaths and more than 70,764 new infections. and the outbreak is causing major issues for hospitals. according to the research institute fiocruz, more than 80% of intensive care unit beds are occupied in the capitals of 25 of brazil's 27 states. in 15 of brazil's largest cities, 90% of icu beds occupied. so, a very difficult situation in brazil, and the former president luiz inacio lula da silva — who earlier this week had bribery charges against him quashed by the supreme court — is pointing the finger squarely at current presidentjair bolsonaro, who you might remember is refusing to take a vaccine. here is the former president speaking earlier today. translation: | want to i make my own propaganda, so that the brazilian people don't follow any imbecilic decisions by the president of the republic or the health minister. get vaccinated. get vaccinated because it is one of the only things that can free us from covid. let's bring in camilla mota, our correspondent in sao paulo. first of all, help me understand the president, the current president's view of the vaccination programme. why is he saying he will not have one? i, . ., why is he saying he will not have one? ., ., , why is he saying he will not have one? .,., , ., one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that — one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that he _ one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that he is _ one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that he is not _ one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that he is not taking - one? bolsonaro has been saying for months that he is not taking the - months that he is not taking the shot because he had covid back in july, he's not against vaccination but he does not encourage people to take the jab and he keeps raising doubts about the vaccine, bringing up doubts about the vaccine, bringing up potential side effects when he actually should be encouraging people to take it. but actually should be encouraging people to take it.— actually should be encouraging --eole to take it. �* ., , , people to take it. but more broadly, hel me people to take it. but more broadly, help me understand _ people to take it. but more broadly, help me understand his _ people to take it. but more broadly, help me understand his approach i people to take it. but more broadly, help me understand his approach to| help me understand his approach to this worsening situation. is he talking about bringing in new restrictions or new measures to try and continue virus? figs restrictions or new measures to try and continue virus?— and continue virus? as the crisis has worsened — and continue virus? as the crisis has worsened and _ and continue virus? as the crisis has worsened and now - and continue virus? as the crisis has worsened and now we - and continue virus? as the crisis has worsened and now we are i and continue virus? as the crisis - has worsened and now we are seeing, after one year of the beginning the pandemic, we are at the worst point so far. different cities are toughening the social distancing measures. unfortunately, experts say that this is too little, too late. the scientific community here in brazil is in favour of a more strict lockdown but governors are really reticent to take further measures because of the potential economic fallout and the political burden. they are afraid of taking this responsibility all by themselves since they don't have the support of federal government or the health ministry. find support of federal government or the health ministry.— health ministry. and while all that is auoin health ministry. and while all that is going on. _ health ministry. and while all that is going on. it _ health ministry. and while all that is going on, it looks _ health ministry. and while all that is going on, it looks like _ health ministry. and while all that is going on, it looks like we - health ministry. and while all that is going on, it looks like we have l is going on, it looks like we have got a major new political battle going on with lula da silva very much taking aim at the president. it seems like it lula spoke -- it —— it seems like it. lula spoke today for over an hour, and even if he said it is too early to speak about 2022, when presidential elections will he held here in brazil, he surely smuggling a candidate. he gives this conciliatory tone, he says he was not angry, that people should not be scared of him or of his left—wing ideologies, and that kind of divided the left here in brazil because some believe that lula should actually step down and open way for new leadership still emerge, because even though his name is popular among brazilians, he still carries a lot of rejection because of the corruption cases linked to his workers party, but another part of the left is thrilled he regained his political rights and think he is up to the task of going against bolsonaro next year in the presidential elections. bulls have shown that if elections were held today, lula will be, would be, a competitive candidate but a lot can happen in a year, especially in a country like priscilla.— country like priscilla. certainly can. camilla, _ country like priscilla. certainly can. camilla, thank— country like priscilla. certainly can. camilla, thank you - country like priscilla. certainly can. camilla, thank you very l country like priscilla. certainly - can. camilla, thank you very much and as camilla was answering my final question there, we have some breaking news on the bbc, because that rescue package i was describing, $1.9 trillion going through congress, the house of representatives has passed that bill. that is after the senate, the upper house of congress, passed it at the weekend. these are the live pictures coming in from the house of representatives and that has just passed. the bill will now go to the president's desk and joe biden will sign it. then that money will begin to be pumped into the us economy, bearing in mind this has been this political tussle between the democrats and republic is whether this, the extent of this spending about $1.9 trillion, is necessary. it will have to be paid back down the track, it is running up the national debt. democrats argue it is certainly necessary because of the pandemic and the extent of poverty in some parts of american society. republicans have resisted that argument, saying this is not an appropriate amount of money to borrow or to pump into the us economy. but it is going to happen because the democrats control the senate the house of representatives and they of course have the president as well, so a major political victory forjoe biden in the early weeks of his presidency. let's turn to central europe now and look at three countries struggling to contain outbreaks — hungary, poland and the czech republic. we'll start with hungary. it's experiencing a third wave of the virus and it's the worst yet. in the past 24 hours, authorities recorded 5,653 new infections and 179 more deaths, surpassing the last peak in december. that's despite more than 10% of the population being vaccinated — the second most per population in the eu. remember, hungary has boosted its vaccine supplies by using the russian sputnik and chinese sinopharm vaccines — the eu hasn't approved eitherfor use. from hungary to poland now. it has also reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases in more than three months. here's our warsaw correspondent adam easton with more. poland's health minister, adam niedzielski, says the third coronavirus wave has arrived in poland and it is starting to accelerate. the number of new cases over the past week has jumped back to levels not seen since the second wave peaked in november. officials say they are concerned about the number of people being hospitalised and they've ordered the temporary hospitals set up during the second wave be readied to receive more patients. many restrictions remain in place. restaurants, cafes and schools — apart from for the youngest pupils — remain closed, but new heightened restrictions are being introduced to the two northern provinces with the highest growth rates. the model suggests that the number of new cases will rise throughout the month. poles who were hoping to celebrate the easter holiday with their extended family may be disappointed for a second year running. from poland to the czech republic. it now has the second highest total death toll in the world when population is taken into account. the only country worse is san marino with a population of 34,000. the infection rate in the czech republic also remains high, and a group of the country's leading scientists estimate that close to 40% of the population have had covid they estimate that within a month or two — helped by vaccination — the czech republic will be among the first in the world to achieve herd immunity. that would be an important moment, we will see if it comes to pass. but with the outbreak still out of control, the prime minister and president are looking to speed up the vaccination process by ordering the russian sputnik vaccine to boost supplies. that plan is causing rifts in the government. 0ur prague correspondent rob cameron explains. the only man standing in the way of unilateral certification for the czech republic is the country's health minister, jan blatny. he refuses to do so, saying that as long as he's in the post, no vaccine will be administered in the czech republic without prior approval from the ema, and now the country's pro—moscow president, milos zeman, wants the prime minister to sack him and also sacked the head of the state body that controls medicines in the czech republic. the question is, how much pressure can these officials withstand, especially as other countries in the region — such as slovakia and hungary — have given their approval to sputnik? will the czechs follow suit? next, we turn to the uk. in the spring of 2020, as england began to exit its first lockdown, borisjohnson made this promise. if we're to control this virus, then we must have a world—beating system for testing potential victims and for tracing their contacts. 10 months on, and with a £37 billion budget, this is the assessment of test and trace from the chair of the cross—party public accounts committee. it's an eye—watering sum of money that's been spent and for that we need to see better results and a clearer connection between testing and stemming the spread of the virus, and so far the data on that is not very strong. here are the numbers. the budget for test and trace when it was first set up in may was £22 billion — $30 billion. in may was £22 billion. since then, it's been allocated a further £15 billion. that's more than the uk's transport budget. we're told 80% of the money is being spent on testing. we know 22 million people in england have been given at least one test during the pandemic. the current testing capacity is one of the highest in the world. 1.5 million tests were due on tuesday alone. then there the tracing. 20,000 contact tracers were recruited. and at the start, it sounded far less efficient. right now, i'm just sat scrolling through netflix. why would they set us up doing this if we're just sat around waiting? it's frustrating to know that i am sat idle when there's people that need contacting. i can't understand why we haven't had any contacts. the target is to tell 80% of close contacts with people who test positive to isolate. that is now being consistently exceeded. but for weeks in the autumn, when the second wave was building, the system struggled to hit 60%. and, crucially, research referenced by the government's science advisers shows that only 15 to 30% of people contacted actually isolate for the ten days they're asked to. to put it another way, it's possible less than two in ten people who need to isolate are doing so properly. and the government's own analysis says that contact tracing alone reduces the r number — that's the ability for the virus to spread — byjust two to 5%. though, we should say, add testing into the equation, it's10—33%. let's go back