The White House is working to soon publish guidelines to help state and local officials make decisions on either relaxing, maintaining, or increasing social distancing and other mitigation measures designed to stop the spread of the CCP virus pandemic.
President Donald Trump announced the development in a letter sent to governors on March 26. The guidelines will be based on local testing for the CCP virus. Levels of spread on county-by-county basis can then be used to make decisions on containment measures.
The guidelines are in line with Trump’s plan to begin to open up the United States by Easter on April 12. Widespread stay-at-home and other state and local orders have smothered the U.S. economy. On the morning prior to the release of Trump’s letter, the Department of Labor reported a record-breaking number of jobless claims.
“There is still a long battle ahead, but our efforts are already paying dividends. As we enhance protections against the virus, Americans across the country are hoping the day will soon arrive when they can resume their normal, economic, social, and religious lives,” Trump wrote.
The administration will use the data collected from widespread testing to determine whether counties are high risk, medium risk, or low risk. The guidelines will likely stem from the risk classifications.
“As testing gives us more information about who has been infected, we are tracking the virus and isolating it to prevent further spread,” Trump wrote. “This new information will drive the next phase in our war against this invisible enemy.”
The number of deaths in the United States from the CCP virus surpassed 1,000 on March 26. New York is the epicenter of the U.S. contagion with more than 37,000 confirmed cases and 385 deaths. Trump noted that the virus has inflicted a heavy toll on the country, but he remained optimistic.
“A number of our fellow citizens have tragically succumbed to its ravages, while many more are fighting for their lives,” Trump wrote. “In their honor, we pledge to marshal every resource and power we have to overcome and vanquish this threat.”
“Through it all, I am deeply inspired by the unflinching dedication of Americans in every state who are rallying together to defeat the virus. I look forward to witnessing that same boundless spirit drive our recovery and quickly return us to the path of exceptional health, safety and prosperity for all.”
