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Trump and Allies Push Toward Reopening Economy. But Governors Urge Caution. Trump and Allies Push Toward Reopening Economy. But Governors Urge Caution.
(1 day later)
ATLANTA — President Trump has been open about his eagerness to see the economy and some semblance of business as usual spring back to life as soon as possible. His surgeon general, Jerome Adams, in a television interview on Friday noted the potential for reopening the country — “place by place, bit by bit,” beginning as early as next month.ATLANTA — President Trump has been open about his eagerness to see the economy and some semblance of business as usual spring back to life as soon as possible. His surgeon general, Jerome Adams, in a television interview on Friday noted the potential for reopening the country — “place by place, bit by bit,” beginning as early as next month.
But on Sunday, officials still in the thick of the grim reality caused by the coronavirus pandemic urged caution, fearing that relaxing protective measures too early could cause the virus to surge once again.But on Sunday, officials still in the thick of the grim reality caused by the coronavirus pandemic urged caution, fearing that relaxing protective measures too early could cause the virus to surge once again.
In interviews on Sunday morning talk shows, governors and mayors acknowledged the delicate balance between aggressively combating the virus and limiting the economic pain, but they said that public health concerns were their priority.In interviews on Sunday morning talk shows, governors and mayors acknowledged the delicate balance between aggressively combating the virus and limiting the economic pain, but they said that public health concerns were their priority.
“We could be pouring gas on the fire, even inadvertently,” Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, a Democrat, said in an interview with CNN on Sunday. He said that returning to a semblance of life before the outbreak was crucial but, “It’s not Job No. 1, because right now, the house is on fire and Job No. 1 is to put the fire out.”“We could be pouring gas on the fire, even inadvertently,” Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, a Democrat, said in an interview with CNN on Sunday. He said that returning to a semblance of life before the outbreak was crucial but, “It’s not Job No. 1, because right now, the house is on fire and Job No. 1 is to put the fire out.”
In communities around the country, Easter Sunday played out as yet another reminder of just how much life has been upended. Millions of Christians celebrated the holiday separated from their extended families and friends as they watched religious services broadcast online and on television. In some cases, congregations worshiped together, but it was in defiance of official guidance to stay home.In communities around the country, Easter Sunday played out as yet another reminder of just how much life has been upended. Millions of Christians celebrated the holiday separated from their extended families and friends as they watched religious services broadcast online and on television. In some cases, congregations worshiped together, but it was in defiance of official guidance to stay home.
But there were signs, in some places, of the crisis leveling off or that it might not be as devastating as had been feared. In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Sunday that 758 more people had died, bringing the state’s total to 9,385 and other data showed that the virus’s spread had slowed in the state. In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said his state had 8,000 hospital beds ready, and that there had been about 80 hospitalizations.But there were signs, in some places, of the crisis leveling off or that it might not be as devastating as had been feared. In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Sunday that 758 more people had died, bringing the state’s total to 9,385 and other data showed that the virus’s spread had slowed in the state. In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said his state had 8,000 hospital beds ready, and that there had been about 80 hospitalizations.
Even so, the United States recently marked a grim milestone, surpassing Italy in the total number of confirmed coronavirus deaths. Tens of thousands more could die. Millions more could lose their jobs, with the pandemic having already put more than 16 million people out of work in the United States in the space of a few weeks.Even so, the United States recently marked a grim milestone, surpassing Italy in the total number of confirmed coronavirus deaths. Tens of thousands more could die. Millions more could lose their jobs, with the pandemic having already put more than 16 million people out of work in the United States in the space of a few weeks.
Mr. Trump has acknowledged the gravity of the question of when to reopen the country but seldom hesitates to show his impatience. On Sunday he said in a tweet: “Governors, get your states testing programs & apparatus perfected. Be ready, big things are happening. No excuses!”Mr. Trump has acknowledged the gravity of the question of when to reopen the country but seldom hesitates to show his impatience. On Sunday he said in a tweet: “Governors, get your states testing programs & apparatus perfected. Be ready, big things are happening. No excuses!”
But the decision to reopen businesses and civic life is not entirely, or even primarily, his to make. And many governors have expressed wariness about lifting stay-at-home orders prematurely.But the decision to reopen businesses and civic life is not entirely, or even primarily, his to make. And many governors have expressed wariness about lifting stay-at-home orders prematurely.
“We’ve got to balance those needs,” Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican, said on ABC’s “This Week” of weighing public health concerns against economic considerations. “But, really, right now, the first thing is saving lives and keeping people safe. We do also have to think about how do we eventually ramp up and get some folks back to work. But you can’t just pick a date and flip a switch. I don’t think it’s going to be that simple.”“We’ve got to balance those needs,” Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican, said on ABC’s “This Week” of weighing public health concerns against economic considerations. “But, really, right now, the first thing is saving lives and keeping people safe. We do also have to think about how do we eventually ramp up and get some folks back to work. But you can’t just pick a date and flip a switch. I don’t think it’s going to be that simple.”
Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, said the virus has had a punishing impact on the city’s African-American population. “It’s devastating our community,” Ms. Lightfoot said in an interview on the CBS program “Face the Nation.” Nearly 70 percent of the people who died from the virus in Chicago were African-Americans, who make up only 30 percent of the city’s total population, according to an examination of death records by The Chicago Tribune.Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, said the virus has had a punishing impact on the city’s African-American population. “It’s devastating our community,” Ms. Lightfoot said in an interview on the CBS program “Face the Nation.” Nearly 70 percent of the people who died from the virus in Chicago were African-Americans, who make up only 30 percent of the city’s total population, according to an examination of death records by The Chicago Tribune.
She said that, in order to relax stay-at-home measures, there would have to be “not just a flattening of the curve but a bending down.”She said that, in order to relax stay-at-home measures, there would have to be “not just a flattening of the curve but a bending down.”
“We’ve got to see a lot more progress on the health care front,” Ms. Lightfoot, a Democrat, said, “before we can start talking about reopening the economy.”“We’ve got to see a lot more progress on the health care front,” Ms. Lightfoot, a Democrat, said, “before we can start talking about reopening the economy.”
Mr. Hutchinson, the Arkansas governor, said that responses have varied state by state because needs differed in different parts of the country. He is one of the few governors who has not imposed a statewide stay-at-home order, a measure that, he said, might have been essential in limiting the virus’s spread in other places but less so in his state. He noted that much of his state is not nearly as densely populated as New York or New Jersey.Mr. Hutchinson, the Arkansas governor, said that responses have varied state by state because needs differed in different parts of the country. He is one of the few governors who has not imposed a statewide stay-at-home order, a measure that, he said, might have been essential in limiting the virus’s spread in other places but less so in his state. He noted that much of his state is not nearly as densely populated as New York or New Jersey.
“It just reflects the flexibility a state needs,” Mr. Hutchinson, a Republican, said.“It just reflects the flexibility a state needs,” Mr. Hutchinson, a Republican, said.
He noted that the hospitalization rate in Arkansas had been low so far. The state, with a population of 3 million, has reported 1,280 cases and 27 deaths through Sunday.He noted that the hospitalization rate in Arkansas had been low so far. The state, with a population of 3 million, has reported 1,280 cases and 27 deaths through Sunday.
Updated June 30, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Arkansas has called for strict social distancing, but has allowed businesses to stay open and people to go to work. “That’s the important balance that we have in our state,” he added. “If we need to do more, we will do more.”Arkansas has called for strict social distancing, but has allowed businesses to stay open and people to go to work. “That’s the important balance that we have in our state,” he added. “If we need to do more, we will do more.”
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Sunday that reopening the country would not be an “all or none” proposition. Dr. Fauci said in an interview with CNN that restrictions must be lifted in a gradual manner to prevent a resurgence of cases. Models show that lifting all social-distancing measures at once nationally may set the stage for a rebound sometime in July.Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Sunday that reopening the country would not be an “all or none” proposition. Dr. Fauci said in an interview with CNN that restrictions must be lifted in a gradual manner to prevent a resurgence of cases. Models show that lifting all social-distancing measures at once nationally may set the stage for a rebound sometime in July.
“If all of a sudden we decide, ‘OK, it’s May, whatever, and we just turn the switch on, that could be a real problem,” Dr. Fauci said.“If all of a sudden we decide, ‘OK, it’s May, whatever, and we just turn the switch on, that could be a real problem,” Dr. Fauci said.
He said that governors would need to manage a “rolling re-entry,” guided by testing results and local risk levels. “I think it could probably start, at least in some ways, maybe next month,” he said on the network’s “State of the Union” program. But he added, “Don’t hold me to it.”He said that governors would need to manage a “rolling re-entry,” guided by testing results and local risk levels. “I think it could probably start, at least in some ways, maybe next month,” he said on the network’s “State of the Union” program. But he added, “Don’t hold me to it.”