The latest news about the pandemic in the U.S.: 

The number of coronavirus deaths in the United States rose by 1,997 in the past 24 hours to reach 40,661 on Sunday, a tally from Johns Hopkins University showed. The total number of cases has exceeded 755,000. 

Deal on additional funding for small businesses: 

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Republicans are "close" to getting a deal with Democrats on another legislative package to help alleviate economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal will involve approving extra money to help small businesses hurt by the pandemic. At a White House briefing, the president suggested there could be a resolution by Monday.

More: Trump says getting close to deal with Democrats on coronavirus stimulus

Mitt Romney excluded from congressional task force:

According to CNN, President Trump admitted on Sunday that he excluded Sen. Mitt Romney from the congressional task force focused on reopening the country. 

Trump replied yes, when he was asked if the decision to shut Romney out of the task force shows that he still holds a grudge against Romney, the only GOP senator to be left off a congressional task force. 

In February, Romney voted to impeach the president on a charge of abusing his power. 

"I'm not a fan of Mitt Romney, I don't want his advice," said Trump. 

Production of swabs: 

At the press conference, Trump also said he is planning to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) again to help with the production of swabs needed to conduct coronavirus tests.

He said the administration is close to finalizing a deal with a company that will convert its plant to produce 10 million swabs per month, but that he would use the DPA to force another company to do the same.

Recalled coronavirus testing kits in Washington: 

The Washington State Department of Health was alerted by the University of Washington School of Medicine to discontinue use of a recently procured batch of COVID-19 specimen collection kits that the university believed may have a quality control issue, according to a statement released on Sunday. 

As a result, the authorities recalled approximately 12,000 kits sent to local health jurisdictions, tribal nations and state agency partners across the state.

The quality control issue has been observed in a small number of tubes of viral transport media (VTM), as some of the vials of VTM showed an unusual color, said the department. 

The VTM is the fluid that preserves a specimen during transport, such as one collected via nasal swab from a person being tested for COVID-19.

(With inputs from agencies)