Coronavirus Watch: Vaccine makers sign safety pledge

Vaccine makers want the public to know: They'll fully vet their COVID-19 vaccine candidates before asking for federal approval. 

Officials from nine biopharmaceutical companies issued a letter Tuesday pledging to "uphold the integrity of the scientific process" as they develop potential vaccines. The statement comes amid increasing concerns that the White House might pressure the FDA to approve a vaccine before the presidential election.

This is Tuesday's Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the major news of the day, as of 2 p.m. ET:

• Senate Republicans plan to introduce a new coronavirus relief bill Tuesday, and a procedural vote could come as early as this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. 
• President Trump asked a Reuters journalist to remove his face mask while asking a question during a news conference Monday at the White House. The reporter didn't. 
• In sports: Spectators will be allowed at the French Open this month despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country, organizers said Monday.
• Do children get sicker with the flu or COVID-19? Researchers at Children’s National Hospital found that although COVID-19 may not be worse for children than the flu, it’s not better either. 
• Today's numbers: The U.S. has had 6.3 million confirmed cases and more than  189,000 deaths. Globally, there have been more than 27.3 million cases and more than 897,000 fatalities. Track the outbreak in your state here. 

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. We appreciate your trust in the Paste BN Network to provide this important information. 

– Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor, @raretakis