President Donald Trump has unveiled a set of guidelines to help states loosen their social distancing policies, but told the state’s governors in a Thursday conference call that governors may make their own decisions on when and how to reopen their states.
Trump will formally unveil the guidelines at noon on Thursday. But several media outlets got an advance copy of the guidelines from participants on the conference call.
The White House is suggesting a three-phase approach.
Advance copies of the document show that benchmarks for the first phase of reopening would include a sustained decrease in cases for 14 days, a return to pre-crisis condition at hospitals, adequate screening and testing, contact tracing for all confirmed cases, plus an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment in hospitals.
The phased approach encourages all individuals to continue good hygiene practices like washing hands, using face coverings in public, and continuing to practice social distancing. And the document encourages employers to enact social distancing, temperature checks, testing and sanitation practices in their workplaces.
In the first phase of reopening, the document suggests schools that are currently closed should remain so and employees who are able to telework should keep working from home.
Large venues, including some restaurants, can operate under strict social distancing protocols. Gyms can open as long as they maintain social distancing guidelines, but bars should remain shuttered.
The guidelines still recommend minimizing nonessential travel, and indicate vulnerable populations should remain sheltered-in-place.
Phases two and three gradually decrease the recommended restrictions.
Once the guidelines are formally introduced, we will post a copy of the entire document, which would also be available at www.whitehouse.gov
