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As essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic keep store shelves stocked and first responders try to keep things running amidst the outbreak, many other people are social distancing. People are being told to work at home and stay at least six feet from other people. On Thursday, President Trump discussed new social distancing guidelines based on geography.
Trump has been frustrated with the economy’s downturn during the pandemic, and has expressed a strong desire to “reopen” the country, as people are mostly stuck inside. As such, he’s discussed how testing could reveal which areas, geographically, are at the highest risk. Then, he could potentially loosen social distancing guidelines in some areas.
Trump’s new social distancing guidelines were first discussed in a letter to state governors. It says they will categorize geographic areas into three categories based on risk. The high-risk areas would be the ones to maintain current levels of social distancing. These areas have high populations, like New York and Los Angeles.
Lower risk areas, however, could likely loosen their guidelines earlier, allowing people to return to their normal day-to-day activities. How, exactly, these areas will be grouped is still unclear.
“Our expanded testing capabilities will quickly enable us to publish criteria, developed in close coordination with the Nation’s public health officials and scientists, to help classify counties with respect to continued risks posed by the virus,” Trump wrote in the letter.
Last week, Trump set out a guideline for a 15-day social distancing measure to combat the spread of the virus. However, since then, he has seemed hesitant to stick to that structure, stating that it is imperative that America “has to go back to work.”
“When we are open, as soon as we open, that doesn’t mean you will stop the guidelines. You will still try and distance yourself. Maybe not to the same extent because you have to lead a life, but the timing is coming,” Trump stated during a news conference earlier this month. Experts, however, don’t feel that this is realistic.
Trump has touted an April 12 date for wanting to get the country back to normal. But many experts feel that is too soon to be safe. Several healthcare professionals feel that relaxing the social distancing guidelines too early could mean higher infection rates.
