“We can’t have the cure be worse than the problem,” Trump told reporters at a briefing, echoing a midnight Sunday tweet. “We have to open our country because that causes problems that, in my opinion, could be far bigger problems.”
It was reckless for him to suggest lifting the guidelines a week before the 15 day period is over. Absolutely stupid.
This is just going to make people on the fence go out throughout the week just because the date is approaching and it's almost time to lift it. Why not wait until the weekend to see where we stand? A week out?
I think we need to move away from absolutist positions on this. We have to weight the hardship and dislocation caused by the economic shutdown versus the number of lives saved by flattening the curve. It is as tough a choice as any society has to make. But I think there is a reasonable middle ground out there. Extent the shutdown another week, then reopen. But reopen in a smart way. People who are young and healthy, or who have already recovered from the virus, can go back to work with less risk. And so forth. Restaurants can reopen but maybe at 25% capacity for a while. Some hard hit areas where flattening the curve is critical should remain shut down for a longer period of time. Local flexibility is to be emphasized, although I fear some states and local governments will make bad decisions.
I think we need to move away from absolutist positions on this. We have to weight the hardship and dislocation caused by the economic shutdown versus the number of lives saved by flattening the curve. It is as tough a choice as any society has to make. But I think there is a reasonable middle ground out there. Extent the shutdown another week, then reopen. But reopen in a smart way. People who are young and healthy, or who have already recovered from the virus, can go back to work with less risk. And so forth. Restaurants can reopen but maybe at 25% capacity for a while. Some hard hit areas where flattening the curve is critical should remain shut down for a longer period of time. Local flexibility is to be emphasized, although I fear some states and local governments will make bad decisions.