The United States has implemented drastic new restrictions for the population to go out and 7 million people in the San Francisco area were in almost total isolation to control the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the global economy.
But not everyone adhered to the measures.
On the same day that President Donald Trump asked Americans not to meet in groups of more than 10 people and urged the elderly to stay at home, Arizona, Florida and Illinois followed through on their plans to hold the primaries. presidential elections scheduled for Tuesday. Ohio canceled the vote a few hours before the polls opened.
Florida’s beaches remained open, including one that was packed with college kids celebrating spring break. Governor Ron Desantis said he will let communities decide about restricting access to the beaches.
Texas Governor Republican Greg Abbott praised the federal government’s response while taking limited action against the viral outbreak. Unlike his counterparts in heavily populated states, Abbott did not make explicit calls to limit mass gatherings.
“This is not the time to panic,” he said. “It’s not like we’ve never been through this before. We’ve been through that many times before. ”
Their statements came on the same day that the number of cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in the country approached 4,500. In addition, there are at least 81 deaths, two thirds of them in the state of Washington, the most affected. Worldwide, more than 7,100 people died from coronavirus.
With the US economy near paralysis, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 3,000 points, or 13%, on its worst day since Black Monday in 1987.
The sudden work stoppage caused Americans to worry about their jobs and savings, threatened to overburden unemployment aid programs, and raised fears that the country could fall into recession.
The decision to go ahead with the primaries went against the severe recommendations of the Trump government.
For the next two weeks, Americans should not meet in groups of more than 10 people, classes will be taken from home, and nonessential travel and social visits should be avoided.
For the first time since the start of the crisis, the president acknowledged that the pandemic could cause an economic recession and suggested that the country could be dealing with the virus until “July or August.”
Election authorities in Arizona, Florida and Illinois said they were taking precautions to ensure that voters can cast their votes without risk, despite calls to prevent people from taking to the streets. A handful of states have already delayed their primaries.
Growing concern about the spread of the coronavirus was causing problems in voting centers before it was even opened.
In Pasco County, Florida, the number of poll workers they abandoned went from 20 last week to more than 150 on Monday following confirmation of the first COVID-19 case in the area. In Illinois, counties pulled out the ballot boxes installed in nursing homes and offered options for those most concerned to turn in their ballots while seeking to replace late-leaving staff. In Chicago, authorities were seeking replacement for 168 voting points.
The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 185,000 people and killed more than 7,300 worldwide.
COVID-19 disease causes mild or moderate symptoms for many and the vast majority recover. Some people, especially the elderly or those with previous medical problems, may experience complications such as pneumonia.
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