US President Donald Trump released federal guidelines on Thursday to relaunch the US economy after the corona virus lockdown. Areas where the epidemic is under control can reopen the economy in three phases by gradually easing emergency measures.
Before the three-step plan goes into effect, individual states must meet a number of conditions, the guidelines said. For example, there should have been a downward trend in the amount of corona infections for two weeks.
There should also be a lot of testing for symptoms of the coronavirus and extensive contact research should take place if someone appears to be infected. There should also be an extensive antibody testing program in places where medical personnel work.
Three phases
If those conditions are met, the first phase can start. It should avoid groups of more than ten people if the appropriate distance cannot be maintained. Travel is also discouraged and working from home is encouraged. Schools remain closed, but cinemas, theaters, restaurants, stadiums and churches are allowed to open, subject to strict physical distance between visitors.
If there is no drop in the number of corona infections, a state can enter the second phase. Then groups of fifty people and more should be discouraged if social distancing is practically impossible. In this phase, everyone is allowed to travel freely again and schools and youth camps can come together again. Cafés are also allowed to open, provided there are not too many people close together.
In phase three, employees are allowed to go to the office without restriction.
Governors have the responsibility
The document states that the recommendations can be implemented by state or by province and that the responsibility lies with the governor of the state. Earlier this week, Trump argued with some governors over who would have the final say on the start of the economy.
“We are not opening all at once, but step by step,” Trump said during the press conference. He added that 29 out of 50 states should be able to enter phase 1 relatively quickly.
A White House employee says these guidelines are on the safe and conservative side and approved by Trump team medical experts, including virologist Anthony Fauci.
New York in lockdown until May 15
Earlier on Thursday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he has extended lockdown due to the corona crisis to May 15. Six other states on the east coast and the city of Los Angeles on the west coast followed suit.
The crisis is hitting the economy hard; the country has not experienced such a rapid rise in the number of unemployed since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Factories are closed, shops are closed and catering and theaters have closed their doors. The US now regrets 31,000 fatalities from the virus, more than any country in the world.
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The coronavirus in short
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