14 countries that are paying their workers during quarantine — and how they compare to America's $1,200 stimulus checks

The United States will send out stimulus checks.Reuters

• As countries around the world bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, some governments are stepping in with direct assistance.
• From monthly payments to one-time checks, many countries are putting cash directly in the hands of impacted or self-employed workers.
• 80 million Americans have already received stimulus checks — and Senate progressives have announced a plan to get Americans $2,000 a month throughout the coronavirus crisis.
• Others, like France and Denmark, have stepped in to subsidize workers' wages and prevent layoffs.
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The wake of the coronavirus pandemic has left people around the world have with their livelihoods — and daily lives — completely upended.

In response to the economic fallout, some governments have stepped in to cushion the blow felt by sudden closures and the shrinking of entire industries. In many countries, workers in specific sectors and self-employed citizens have found themselves particularly impacted.

By April 17, over 80 million Americans had their $1,200 stimulus checks direct-deposited. On top of that stimulus check, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Ed Markey (D-MA) announced on Friday that they are introducing a bill to give Americans $2,000 a month.

The Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act will give citizens making less than $120,000 an extra $2,000 month for every month during the coronavirus crisis — and for three months after.

In April, House Democrats proposed a similar bill called the Emergency Money for the People Act; the bill would give $2,000 every month — for six months — to Americans over the age of 16 making less than $130,000 a year.

But the level of support from different countries has varied around the world. The United States is solidly in the middle of the pack, while countries like Germany lead by offering over $5,000 in assistance to freelancers.

Here's how different countries rank when it comes to the amount of direct assistance they're providing.