Posted on 03/26/2020 12:13:07 PM PDT by Conserv
President Trump on Thursday outlined plans for his administration to classify each county across the United States based on its risk for an outbreak of coronavirus and use that information to create targeted guidelines.
In a letter to the nation's governors, Trump spoke optimistically about expanded testing capabilities that would allow officials to identify which areas of the country are grappling with outbreaks and where the virus is spreading.
Based on that surveillance testing data, federal agencies would determine if a specific county is high-risk, medium-risk or low-risk for the virus. The administration is simultaneously working on new guidelines for social distancing that would apply to an area depending on its classification, Trump wrote.
"With each passing day, our increasingly extensive testing capabilities are giving us a better understanding of the virus and its path," Trump wrote. "As testing gives us more information about who has been infected, we are tracking the virus and isolating it to prevent further spread. This new information will drive the next phase in our war against this invisible enemy."
It's unclear how quickly the administration expects to be able to roll out the extensive classification system. The federal government's initial response to the virus was hampered by a slow rollout of nationwide testing availability, and many regions are still facing shortages.
Trump had a call with governors earlier Thursday that was closed to the press. He and Vice President Pence have been in regular contact with state leaders to coordinate the response to the virus, which has infected more than 75,000 Americans and killed more than 1,000 people in the U.S.
In the letter, which was somber and serious in tone, Trump nodded toward his goal of reopening at least parts of the economy by Easter Sunday, which is less than three weeks away.
"There is still a long battle ahead, but our efforts are already paying dividends," he wrote. "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."
But governors have largely been implementing strict measures in their respective states to try to blunt the spread of the virus. Governors in Idaho, Michigan, California, Illinois, Ohio, New York and other states have issued stay-at-home orders or shuttered nonessential businesses.
State leaders in both parties have dismissed Trump's Easter time frame for easing those restrictions, saying public health will take priority and warning the peak of cases may be occurring around that time.
Even public health experts in Trump's administration have tempered the president's ambitious goal for loosening restrictions. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters on Tuesday that officials still needed more data to determine whether areas without current outbreaks might face them soon.
"I think people might get the misinterpretation you're just going to lift everything up and ... that's not going to happen," Fauci said. "It's going to be looking at the data."
Was hoping this would happen. There is no reason for outlying counties in Michigan to be affected by Detroit and its three counties. Some of our counties have not cases at all.
Where I live in New York State, the population is actually kind of sparse. Put it this way, we were social distancing when social distancing wasn’t cool. No need to follow NYC protocols.
Yup and publish actually numbers unlike NYC that is squelching exact geo local of infected.
Do it by zip code
This is why we have a multi-layered government.
Gee, a rational approach based on facts. How novel.
37k cases in nys, with 90% in nyc, westchester and Long Island. NYS is a huge state.
Does seem like a sensible idea.
I like the sound of this.
Get it straight.....
Its called Rural America and has nothing to do with social distancing.
When some one infected from NYC comes to your lovely little town and coughs on you,your frozen food door at Stop and Shop or Open State, guess what,Tag Your It
Trump knows if you leave it up the governors, especially the Dem ones, they will shut down entire states for long periods of time...they can escape accountability as it gives them a platform and excuse to blame Trump
this plan puts pressure on these governors to open up select counties and allow people to get back to work
The US will not have nationwide spread like Spain or Italy.
However. There will be hotspots, lots of them, where things will be very bad.
The idea that this will be “over by Easter” is absurd.
Good idea. I live in Jacksonville, the biggest city in area in the US. That’s because the city and the mostly rural county are coterminous. We have some cases here but no emergency. Also, the population here is pretty young.
Everybody is terrified, not of the virus but of the shut-downs announced daily by our neo-fascist mayor, Lenny Curry. And to think I actually voted for him. Never again.
This thing WILL end a lot of political careers.
So there’s an upside.
reasonable. tailor individual guidelines specific to the locality.
worst case, one size fits all is foolish overkill.
The potential problem is people from higher risk counties swarming into the low risk counties.
I bet part of fly over country still respects part of the old codes of the wild west!-)
A horse (or anything else during this virus) thief pays with his life.
Defend yourself whenever necessary.
Look out for your own.
Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table.
Never order anything weaker than whiskey.
Don’t make a threat without expecting dire consequences.
Honesty is absolute – your word is your bond, a handshake is more binding than a contract.
Getter done!
Very useful map here...
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