The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus relief package estimated to be worth $100 billion as the upper chamber seeks to swiftly craft and approve a massive $1 trillion stimulus package that could include direct payments to Americans.

In a 90-8 vote, the Senate adopted a House-passed bill that expands free testing including for those who are uninsured, provides paid sick and medical leave for some workers and increases unemployment insurance and food assistance programs. The measure will now be sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to quickly sign the second relief package to address the widening outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The vote itself was unusual due to federal guidance on social distancing that limits large gatherings. Normally, the Senate has 15 minutes to vote and members typically remain on the floor to hold conversations. Instead, Wednesday's roll-call vote was kept open for 30 minutes to avoid crowding in the chamber. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged colleagues to "vote and depart the chamber so we don't have gaggles of conversation here on the floor."

The Kentucky Republican had urged all senators to back the bill brokered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin despite its "shortcomings." McConnell has said the Senate will work at "warp speed" to pass "phase three" of coronavirus aid as the stock market continues to plummet . The U.S. has more than 6,000 cases, but the

White House warned Wednesday that the number could spike over the next few days .

"It's a well-intentioned, bipartisan product assembled by House Democrats and President Trump's team that tries to stand up and expand some new relief measures for American workers," McConnell said earlier on Wednesday.

"We're going to pass the House's bill, but it's imperfection will just make our comprehensive package even more urgent," he added. "So we aren't leaving until we deliver it. The Senate is not going to leave small business behind."

The Treasury Department sent a proposal on Wednesday that suggests allocating $500 billion for direct payments to Americans, a huge move that would be implemented in two rounds with the first on April 6 and the second on May 18. Officials are still considering the size of the checks, though Mnuchin said he was open to the $1,000 checks floated by some lawmakers.

The White House plan also recommends providing $300 billion in relief for small businesses, $50 billion in secured loans for the airline industry and $150 billion in loans for other industries hit hardest by the major slowdown in the economy.

McConnell said several groups of Senate Republicans are floating ideas to curb the economic meltdown and drafting a proposal. Once the GOP conference agrees on a measure, the Republican leader said they'll work with Democrats. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has panned the process of working without Democrats in the initial phase, arguing that it'll drag out the process even longer.

The New York Democrat has warned against a bailout of large industries without first addressing relief for American workers. The Democratic leader said $1,000 checks aren't enough to cover rent, food and other necessary expenses, especially if the fallout from the pandemic lasts for months. He said it's "not a time for small thinking and small measures."

Schumer has mapped out his own priorities for the third relief package to include expanded unemployment insurance, emergency child care for first responders and health care workers and strengthened hospital capacity.