Trump said Friday that he would convene a new council of administration officials, business leaders and political figures from around the country to map out a potential plan to reopen the United States.
The pandemic has shuttered businesses across the country and forced millions of Americans to apply for unemployment, crippling the economy and putting a strain on whole industries. Trump has appeared eager to relax social distancing guidelines, and some administration officials have suggested businesses could reopen as early as next month.
Several states have extended their stay-at-home orders until May, while some governors have moved to further limit individual contact within communities to further clamp down on the virus’s spread. Starting Saturday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has restricted travel between residences in the state, with few exceptions.
Despite the economic toll, Trump has said he will listen to public health experts, who point to the rising number of deaths and warn that reopening the country too early could result in a spike in cases, allowing the virus to surge in communities and leading to hospitals exceeding their capacity.
“I don’t know that I’ve had a bigger decision. But I’m going to surround myself with the greatest minds. Not only the greatest minds, but the greatest minds in numerous different businesses, including the business of politics and reason,” Trump told reporters at a White House press briefing.
“And we’re going to make a decision, and hopefully it’s going to be the right decision,” he continued. “I will say this. I want to get it open as soon as we can.”
Article Appeared @ https://thehill.com/homenews/news/492327-number-of-us-coronavirus-cases-top-500000