Washington/Geneva:
President Donald Trump laid out new guidelines on Thursday for U.S. states to emerge from a coronavirus shutdown in a staggered, three-stage approach meant to revive the U.S. economy even as the country continues to fight the pandemic.
The recommendations call on states to show a “downward trajectory” of COVID-19 cases or positive tests for the disease over 14 days before proceeding with the plan, which gradually loosens restrictions on businesses that have been shuttered to blunt the spread of the virus.
“We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The president had said earlier this month he wanted to reopen the economy with a “big bang.”
The plan is a set of recommendations for state governors, not orders. In that sense, it represents a backdown by Trump, who on Monday insisted he had total authority to direct states to re-open or remain closed. The responsibility for such decisions lies with state, not federal, authorities.
With the onus on governors, the plan also gives Trump political cover if not everything goes well. The president, a Republican who is running for re-election in November, has faced criticism for downplaying the seriousness of the virus in the early weeks of the outbreak.
Meanwhile,New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has hired high-powered consultants to develop a science-based plan for the safe economic reopening of the region that can thwart expected pressure from Trump to move more rapidly, state government sources told Reuters on Wednesday
Cuomo has also recalled three former top aides: Bill Mulrow, a senior adviser at Blackstone Group; Steven Cohen, an executive vice president and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Inc; and Larry Schwartz, a deputy Westchester County executive.
Deloitte is also involved in developing the regional plan, a source said.
The goal is to “Trump-proof” the plan, said an adviser to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
“We think Trump ultimately will blink on this, but if not, we need to push back, and we are reaching out to top experts and other professionals to come up with a bullet-proof plan,” to open on the state’s terms, said a Cuomo adviser.
Europe is not yet ready to lift lockdown:WHO
The storm clouds of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hang heavily over Europe, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, warned on Thursday (April 16).
Case numbers across the region, spanning 53 countries, are continuing to climb. In the past ten days, the number of cases reported in Europe has nearly doubled to close to one million, and over 84,000 people have lost their lives to the virus in the region, Kluge announced. Of the total global burden, 50% of cases are in this region.
“We remain in the eye of the storm… Now more than ever I call for solidarity between countries. It is time to step up and display both responsive and responsible leadership to steer us through this storm,” Kluge told a virtual press briefing, adding that the next few weeks will be critical for Europe.
Of the 10 countries in the region with the highest number of cases, there have been optimistic signs in terms of declining numbers in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland in recent weeks. But small positive signals have been tempered by sustained or increased levels of incidents in other countries, such as the United Kingdom.
“COVID-19 is unforgiving and has shown the ability to overwhelm even the strongest of our health systems in Europe quickly…. It is imperative that we do not let down our guard,” Kluge said.
WHO is calling on governments and health authorities to consider a safe transition through a gradual shift in measures. It is urging that any steps to ease restrictions ensure that:
Evidence shows the COVID-19 transmission is controlled public health and health system capacities, including hospitals, are in place to identify, isolate, test, trace contacts and quarantine them.
Risks are minimised in highly vulnerable settings, particularly in elderly care homes, mental health facilities and for people residing in crowded places.
Workplace preventive measures are established, with physical distancing, hand washing facilities and respiratory etiquette in place.
-Importation risks can be managed.
-Communities have a voice and are engaged in the transition.
Kluge urged countries to rethink before easing restrictions if they cannot ensure the above criteria.
“As we consider transition, we must acknowledge there are no quick wins. Complexity and uncertainty lie ahead. There is no fast track back to normal,” he said.
Kluge also paid tribute to the support shown to WHO from across the world after the United States announced it was halting funding for the UN health agency, pending a review of its response to the initial outbreak.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support of European countries and the people of Europe and all over the world to the mission of WHO. Some (financial) commitments have come in, but for the time being, we are in the midst of the crisis, so we are focused on saving lives,” he said.