VIRUS TODAY: GOP offers alternative COVID-19 relief plan

Here’s what’s happening Sunday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:

THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY:

— A group of 10 Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for him to meet with them to negotiate over his proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Their smaller counterproposal calls for $160 billion for vaccines, testing, treatment and personal protective equipment and more targeted relief than the president's plan to issue $1,400 stimulus checks for most Americans. Ohio Sen. Rob Portman suggested that the checks should be limited to individuals who make no more than $50,000 per year and families who make $100,000 per year.

— Biden wants most schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade students to reopen by late April, but even if that happens, millions of students, many of whom are minorities in urban areas, will be left out. Some argue powerful teachers unions are standing in the way of bringing back students with in-person learning, while the unions insist they are looking to protect the health and safety of teachers and students and their families. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said reopening K-8 classrooms might not be possible across the country within Biden’s time frame.

— Frustration is growing at long-term care facilities over the pace of COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Some nursing homes are still waiting on first shots to fend off the virus that can devastate their vulnerable elderly residents. CVS and Walgreens, which have led the vaccination push in long-term care settings in nearly all states, say they are proceeding on schedule. But resident advocates and experts worry about delays in the delivery of vaccines that have been available for more than a month. Home operators and residents’ relatives across...