U.S. President Donald Trump has release guidelines to "open up America again" amid COVID-19 outbreak. He said state governors will be empowered to choose whether to open or remain close, depending on their different situation.
The guidelines are aimed at easing social distancing requirements and allowing areas with declining COVID-19 cases to return to providing normal commerce and services. According to multiple American media, the three-phase plan looks like this:
Phase 1-
Vulnerable people are to shelter in place.
Telework if possible and others return to work in phases.
Schools will remain closed.
No more than 10 people should be gathering.
People should minimize non-essential travel
Phase 2-
Vulnerable people are to remain sheltered in place.
Employers should continue encouraging telework.
Schools will be re-opened.
No more than 50 people should be gathering.
Non-essential travel may resume.
Larger venues like restaurants, bars and gyms may reopen with social distancing.
Phase 3-
Vulnerable people can go out but should practice social distancing.
No restrictions on work.
Larger venues should practice limited social distancing and proper sanitation.
Each phase is set to last a minimum of 14 days, with some parts of the country expected to return to normalcy after a month of evaluating if the process has not caused any uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Trump walked back earlier remarks regarding his desire and ability to force U.S. states to adhere to his orders to reopen. "You're going to call your own shots," Trump told governors, according to an audio recording obtained by the Associated Press.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 5.2 million more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. That brings the total number of Americans out of work to 22 million in the past four weeks, which means 1 in 7 American workers is now jobless.
Earlier on Thursday, several U.S. governors of Midwestern states said they are coordinating to reopen the Midwest regional economy.
On the release of the guidelines, renowned U.S. medical expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that the dominant issue for reopening is the "health and safety of the American public."
By Omar Elwafaii
