President Trump Reassessing Social Distancing: 5 Things To Know

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is reportedly considering easing new coronavirus guidelines on social distancing in hopes of jump-starting the economy, even as governors and members of his own government are urging people to stay farther apart from each other, not closer.

Trump said at a news conference Monday that the country would be "open" shortly and not in a matter of months.

The guidelines could be eased as early as next week, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with discussions about the topic. On Monday, the death toll in the United States from the virus topped 570, up from 70 only one week ago. More than 42,000 people were infected, The Associated Press reported.

The United Kingdom, which has recorded fewer deaths than the United States, on Monday announced a strict stay-at-home order.

With masks, ventilators and political goodwill in desperately short supply, more than one-fifth of the world’s population was ordered or urged to stay in their homes Monday at the start of what could be a pivotal week in the battle to contain the coronavirus in the U.S. and Europe.

Here are five things to know about the social distancing guidelines and discussions on revising it:

1. Guidelines announced last week call for limiting close contact between people by banning gatherings, closing schools and offices, encouraging remote work and urging people to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from one another. Health officials said these are vital to slowing the spread of the virus, for which more than 41,700 people in the United States have tested positive. The 15-day period would end Monday.

2. On Sunday, just before midnight, Trump tweeted: “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!”

3. The consensus by health officials is that social distancing is the best chance the United States has of curtailing the spread of the disease. On Friday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, chief medical adviser to the White House Coronavirus Task Force, advocated restrictive measures all across the country.

4. Thomas Bossert, the former homeland security adviser, tweeted Monday morning: “Sadly, the numbers now suggest the U.S. is poised to take the lead in #coronavirus cases. It’s reasonable to plan for the US to top the list of countries with the most cases in approximately 1 week. This does NOT make social intervention futile. It makes it imperative!”

5. The president could see some backlash in Congress if he eases the guidelines. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, tweeted Monday: “President Trump’s best decision was stopping travel from China early on. I hope we will not undercut that decision by suggesting we back off aggressive containment policies within the United States.”

See Also:

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