Trump’s 3-phase plan to reopen America

Washington, April 17

His announcement came on a day when the labour department said another 5.2 million workers filed for unemployment benefits last week. The job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic was 22 million in March, easily the worst stretch of US job losses on record. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week projected that the American economy will shrink this year by 5.9 per cent amidst the pandemic that has wrecked havoc in the country.

Asserting that a prolonged lockdown, combined with a forced economic depression, would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health, Trump said his administration is issuing new federal guidelines that will allow governors to take a phased approach to reopening their individual states.

Trump said healthy Americans will now be able to return to work if conditions on the ground allow.

“Instead of a blanket shutdown, we will pursue a focus on sheltering the highest risk individuals,” he said, adding that his administration is establishing clear scientific metric and benchmarks on testing new case growth and hospital capacity that must be met before advancing to each phase. “If the virus returns in the fall, as some scientists think it may, possibly, these guidelines will ensure that our country is up and running so that we can likewise put it out quickly,” he said.

Currently more than 95 per cent of America’s 330 million population are under a stay-at-home order. The 18-page guidelines were developed by top medical experts from across the government and are based on verifiable metrics regarding the situation on the ground. The guidelines empower governors to tailor the phased reopening to address the situation in their states.

The criteria also include hospitals having the resources to treat all patients without crisis care and a robust testing program for healthcare workers. The President has argued with governors in recent days about the timing of easing restrictions and reopening businesses — but he has now conceded that his powers are limited to issuing guidelines.

Vice-President Mike Pence, who is in charge of the White House taskforce against COVID-19, said that the new guidelines for opening up America again are a product of the best science and the best common sense that the president has marshalled on his team and from a broad range of advisors from all across the nation. — Agencies

4,591 Americans die in 24 hours

Washington: A record number of 4,591 Americans have died in the last 24 hours due to coronavirus in the US, which has the highest number of COVID-19 casualties in the world. According to the Johns Hopkins University data, by 8 pm on Thursday, as many as 4,591 Americans have died in the last 24 hours, The Wall Street Journal said. The previous highest was 2,569 on Wednesday. New York City and its adjoining areas, including New Jersey and Connecticut have emerged as the epicentre of the virus in the US.

IMF approves $1.4 billion to Pak

Washington: The IMF has approved disbursement of $1.386 billion as a financial assistance to cash-strapped Pakistan to meet its urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. The IMF’s decision comes at the request of Pakistan, which faces an urgent balance of payment crisis. “The virus outbreak is having a significant impact on the Pakistani economy,” said Geoffrey Okamoto, IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair. Meanwhile, the US said it is helping Pakistan in its fight against coronavirus with more than $8 million in new contribution.

Grim Scenario

847 succumb to virus in UK

London: The number of people in Britain who have died in hospital from coronavirus has risen by 847 to 14,576, according to daily health ministry figures on Friday. The increase over a period of 24 hours is slightly lower than the 861 new deaths recorded the previous day. The latest data also showed a further 5,599 people had tested positive for COVID-19 over 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the country to nearly 1,09,000.

Spain deaths near 19,500

Madrid: Spain’s death toll increased to nearly 19,500, government figures showed on Friday. The country reported 585 new fatalities in the past 24 hours, but said it had revised its counting mechanism, making the figures hard to compare to previous daily tolls. The total number of deaths in Spain now stands at 19,478, the third highest in the world after the United States and Italy.

12 Indians among 14 infected in Nepal

Kathmandu: Twelve Indians are among the 14 new coronavirus cases reported in Nepal on Friday, nearly doubling the number of infected persons in the country. The number of infected persons in the country jumped to 30 after 14 more people tested positive for coronavirus, Ministry of Health and Population has confirmed. According to a statement issued by the ministry, 14 men from Udayapur in eastern Nepal and Chitwan district in southern Nepal tested positive for the deadly virus.

Germany, Denmark ease lockdown

Some European countries have announced plans to ease restrictions on life, transport and cross-border travel imposed since mid-March.

GERMANY announces partial reopening of shops next week and schools, hairdressers from May 4. However, social distancing rules would remain in place until May 3.

DENMARK will allow certain small businesses, such as hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools, to reopen on April 20.

AUSTRIA allows thousands of shops to reopen. Shopping centres, larger shops and hairdressers are due to open from May 1.