Washington | President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) introduced the economic team he will rely on to help rebuild the US economy at a perilous moment, with coronavirus cases soaring, the Federal Reserve chairman warning of challenging months ahead and legislators in Congress still struggling to reach agreement on a rescue package.

Mr Biden, speaking in Delaware, called on Congress to pass a substantial relief package to help keep businesses, households and local governments afloat while his Treasury secretary nominee, Janet Yellen, called the damage done so far "an American tragedy" that could lead to long-term devastation if not quickly corrected.