A three-phase plan to reopen the United States in the face of the Coronavirus emergency. President Donald Trump presented state governors with an 18-page document entitled "Opening Up America Again” which outlines the guidelines that will allow you to gradually and "thoughtfully" reopen schools, shops and offices and to restart the US economy, stopped due to lockdown imposed to combat the coronavirus emergency. It is a question, it must be specified, of non-binding directives that the Governors, responsible for Health within their States, can decide to follow or not. The underlining is mandatory given the controversies that have arisen in recent days in the United States.
In fact, a few days ago, the number one in the White House had claimed to have the authority to establish by decree how, when and whether to restart the USA. A declaration that does not correspond to reality given that - as mentioned - it is the Governors who have to make decisions on Healthcare within their territories. Trump was therefore forced to take a step back, openly admitting that “the choice will be theirs”.
THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE USA
Before going into the details of the reopening plan, a mention of the American situation is in order. To date the United States is the first country in the world for the number of infected and dead with 671 thousand positives and over 33 thousand victims. According to the latest data published by Wall Street Journal, which analyzes the numbers of the Johns Hopkins University, April 16 was the worst day so far with 4.591 deaths and 31.551 new infections recorded in just 24 hours. Among the states hardest hit by the pandemic are: New York, Michigan, New Jersey and California. There are also problems with swabs overseas: according to data, only 1% of the population has undergone tests to diagnose the coronavirus.
THE ECONOMY SUFFERS
In the US, as in Europe, the economic situation has become worrying. In just four weeks they were presented 22 million new jobless claims and, according to estimates, in June the unemployment rate could even reach 20%, a percentage not seen since the Great Depression.
In March, retail sales fell by 8,7%, an all-time record, while industrial production fell by 5,4%, the worst drop since 1946. Alarm on the country's main banks that in the first quarter of 2020 they have practically halved their profits. According to the IMF, in 2020 the US GDP could contract by 5,9%.
TRUMP'S PLAN
These data prompted Donald Trump to present the reopening plan of the States just as the pandemic numbers hit their negative peak.
“The next front in our war is to open up America again – said the US president – America wants to be open and so do the Americans. A nationwide shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution."
The plan envisages a gradual easing of the restrictions - to be carried out in three different phases separated from each other by at least 14 days - which each State will be able to join on a voluntary basis as early as tomorrow. Simply put, those who decide to reopen will be able to do so by following the guidelines of the White House. However, the conditions to do so must exist, first of all: data that demonstrate a clear decline of the virus.
"We will not open everything at once, but in small and careful stages", explained Trump in an indirect reply to the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo who a few hours earlier had extended the lockdown in his state until next May 15th.
At a general level, the document establishes that to move from one phase to another, the States will have to wait at least 14 days during which there will have to be a reduction in the number of confirmed infected people, but also of patients with symptoms attributable to Covid-19. It will also be necessary to demonstrate the ability to treat patients in hospitals and to be able to carry out tests on the health personnel most at risk. The recommendations include, in addition to increasing tampons, also the application of contact tracking and social distancing measures.
PHASE 1
As for the restrictions, in phase 1 bars and schools will remain closed, while restaurants, theatres, cinemas, stadiums, gyms and places of worship will be able to reopen, respecting the safety protocols. Citizens will have to continue to respect social distancing measures in public places, gatherings of more than ten people will be prohibited and smart working will be encouraged and the absolute ban on travel will remain.
PHASE 2
If after at least 14 days phase 1 has been successful, it will be possible to move on to phase two. Essential condition: demonstrate that there has not been an increase in infections. In the second phase, schools will be able to reopen, citizens will be able to travel. It will also be possible to resume travel even for non-essential reasons. The bars will be able to reopen but with heavy limitations, while up to 50 people will be able to participate in public gatherings (there were 10 in the first).
PHASE 3
In the third phase, defined as the "new normal", thanks to the identification and isolation of possible new cases of contagion, all workers will be able to return to their offices, visits to hospitals and rest homes, public places and structures that could operate with some precautions. The bars will be able to go back to work "as before".
