ema initially posted 04/20;
overhauled 06/11/20 -
The question of how and when to reopen the economy came to
the
fore in April. President Trump in a March 24 virtual town hall on
Fox News said he wanted the economy open by April 12 Easter
Sunday. That did not happen. There was some thought that a
regional approach might work; on April 13 three Western states
(CA,
OR and WA) and seven Eastern states (NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE, RI and MA)
announced regional coordination efforts work toward reopening. In
a testy
April 14 briefing Trump declared, "When somebody is president of the
United States, your authority is total." A more measured response
came on April 16, when the White House issued guidelines putting the
onus on the states.
Individual states and localities have proceeded at very different paces
in reopening, some acting cautiously and others moving much more
quickly. President Trump's emphasis on reopening the economy,
drew criticism but appeared to be producing results, at least in the
short term (+).
By
early June many small businesses were reopening. As the
reopening unfolds, businesses are having to make many adjustments to
allow for physical distancing in their establishments; some have
concerns about liability. At the same time workers and organized
labor have concerns about safety.
Even as businesses are reopening their doors, COVID cases and deaths
have continued and are even rising in some states. As the CDC
notes,
"In order to get and
keep
America open states, tribes, localities, and territories
must be able to quickly identify
new
cases, break chains of transmission, and protect first responders
and health care workers from infection." [emphasis
added]
See also:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Key Resources.
Centers
for
Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID-19.
Occupational
Safety
and Health Administration.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
Suzanne Clark. "Implementing a National Return to Work
Plan."
U.S.
Chamber
of
Commerce, April 13, 2020.
Biden for President. "
Fact
Sheet: The Biden Plan for an Effective Re-Opening That Jumpstarts
The Economy." June 11, 2020.
The
White
House
April 16, 2020
President Donald J. Trump Announces Guidelines for Opening Up
America Again
This morning, President Donald J. Trump convened two bipartisan
dialogues with Members of the Opening Up America Again Congressional
Group to discuss the next chapter of the COVID-19 recovery. This
afternoon the President celebrated the vital role truckers play in
keeping America well-stocked. Later, the President discussed his
health-based vision for putting our Nation back to work with America’s
Governors. This evening, President Trump continued his
unprecedented level of access to the American people at a press
conference where he presented his
guidelines on
the
three
phases
of
Opening
Up
America
Again.
President
Trump
remains
a
tireless fighter for the American people and will continue to
take decisive actions to keep our Nation healthy and prosperous.
Learn more about the guidelines at
WhiteHouse.gov/OpeningAmerica.
The
White
House
April 16, 2020
President Donald J. Trump Convenes Members of Congress to Serve on
the Opening Up America Again Congressional Group
Today, President Donald J. Trump and members of his Administration
hosted phone calls with Republican and Democrat Members of the House of
Representatives and Senate serving on the Opening Up America Again
Congressional Group. The President announced that he will soon
provide guidance to America’s Governors to determine their ability to
reignite the economies in their respective States. The dialogue
between the President, senior Administration officials, and the
bipartisan group of Members of Congress also included a range of
topics, namely the need for additional funding for the Paycheck
Protection Program, the international and domestic supply chains, ways
to energize the economy, surprise medical billing, clarifying the
difference between essential and non-essential workers, mental health,
and relief for small businesses.
Additionally, the Opening Up America Again Congressional Group
discussed the rapidly expanding access to COVID-19 diagnostic and
anti-body tests, ventilators, face masks, and other PPE.
President Trump was pleased to hear such positive feedback from the
Members about the work that the Administration is doing to keep America
healthy and prosperous, and thanked them for their participation.
The following Members of Congress will serve on the Opening Up
America Again Congressional Group:
Members of the United States House of Representatives
Leader Kevin McCarthy,
R-CA
Representative Andy Biggs,
R-AZ
Representative Kevin Brady,
R-TX
Representative Susan Brooks,
R-IN
Representative Steve Chabot,
R-OH
Representative Liz Cheney,
R-WY
Representative Henry Cuellar,
D-TX
Representative Warren Davidson,
R-OH
Representative Rodney Davis,
R-IL
Representative Ted Deutch,
D-FL
Representative Marcia Fudge,
D-OH
Representative Matt Gaetz,
R-FL
Representative Anthony Gonzalez,
R-OH
Representative Josh Gottheimer,
D-NJ
Representative Kay Granger,
R-TX
Representative French Hill,
R-AR
Representative Mike Johnson,
R-LA
Representative Jim Jordan,
R-OH
Representative John Katko,
R-NY
Representative Ro Khanna,
D-CA
Representative Derek Kilmer,
D-WA
Representative John Larson,
D-CT
Representative Billy Long,
R-MO
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer,
R-MO
Representative Patrick McHenry,
R-NC
Representative Stephanie Murphy,
D-FL
Representative Jimmy Panetta,
D-CA
Representative Steve Scalise,
R-LA
Representative Elise Stefanik,
R-NY
Representative Tom Suozzi,
D-NY
Representative Greg Walden,
R-OR
Representative Lee Zeldin,
R-NY
Members of the United States Senate
Leader Mitch McConnell,
R-KY
Senator Lamar Alexander,
R-TN
Senator John Barrasso,
R-WY
Senator Marsha Blackburn,
R-TN
Senator Roy Blunt,
R-MO
Senator John Boozman,
R-AR
Senator Mike Braun,
R-IN
Senator Richard Burr,
R-NC
Senator Shelley Moore Capito,
R-WV
Senator Tom Carper,
D-DE
Senator Bill Cassidy,
R-LA
Senator Susan Collins,
R-ME
Senator John Cornyn,
R-TX
Senator Tom Cotton,
R-AR
Senator Kevin Cramer,
R-ND
Senator Mike Crapo,
R-ID
Senator Ted Cruz,
R-TX
Senator Steve Daines,
R-MT
Senator Tammy Duckworth,
D-IL
Senator Dick Durbin,
D-IL
Senator Michael Enzi,
R-WY
Senator Joni Ernst,
R-IA
Senator Dianne Feinstein,
D-CA
Senator Deb Fischer,
R-NE
Senator Cory Gardner,
R-CO
Senator Lindsey Graham,
R-SC
Senator Chuck Grassley,
R-IA
Senator Maggie Hassan,
D-NH
Senator Josh Hawley,
R-MO
Senator Martin Heinrich,
D-NM
Senator John Hoeven,
R-ND
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith,
R-MS
Senator James Inhofe,
R-OK
Senator Ron Johnson,
R-WI
Senator John Kennedy,
R-LA
Senator Angus King, Jr.,
I-ME
Senator Amy Klobuchar,
D-MN
Senator James Lankford,
R-OK
Senator Patrick Leahy,
D-VT
Senator Mike Lee, R-
UT
Senator Kelly Loeffler,
R-GA
Senator Martha McSally,
R-AZ
Senator Jerry Moran,
R-KS
Senator Lisa Murkowski,
R-AK
Senator Rand Paul,
R-KY
Senator David Perdue,
R-GA
Senator Rob Portman,
R-OH
Senator James Risch,
R-ID
Senator Pat Roberts,
R-KS
Senator Jacky Rosen,
D-NV
Senator Mike Rounds,
R-SD
Senator Marco Rubio,
R-FL
Senator Ben Sasse,
R-NE
Senator Rick Scott,
R-FL
Senator Tim Scott,
R-SC
Senator Richard Shelby,
R-AL
Senator Kyrsten Sinema,
D-AZ
Senator Dan Sullivan,
R-AK
Senator John Thune,
R-SD
Senator Thom Tillis,
R-NC
Senator Pat Toomey,
R-PA
Senator Mark Warner,
D-VA
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse,
D-RI
Senator Roger Wicker,
R-MS
Senator Todd Young,
R-IN
The
White
House
April 16, 2020
FACT SHEET
President Donald J. Trump Is Beginning the Next Phase In Our Fight
Against Coronavirus: Guidelines for Opening Up America Again
"All of American
society is engaged and mobilized in the war against the invisible
enemy. While we must remain vigilant, it is clear that our aggressive
strategy is working."
President Donald
J. Trump
BEGINNING THE NEXT PHASE IN THE FIGHT:
President Donald J. Trump is continuing the fight against the
coronavirus by beginning to reopen the country in a smart and safe way.
- The Trump Administration is issuing new guidelines to enable
individual States to reopen in phases using a deliberate, data-driven
approach.
- Under these guidelines, States will reopen one step at a time,
rather than all at once.
- The guidelines will empower Governors to tailor the phased
reopening to address the situation in their State.
- Governors can begin phased openings at the Statewide or
county-by-county level.
- These guidelines were developed by the top medical experts from
across the Government and are based on verifiable metrics regarding the
situation on the ground.
- The guidelines set clear benchmarks on new cases, testing, and
hospital resources for States to meet to proceed toward a phased
reopening.
- Criteria include a downward trajectory in cases presenting
coronavirus-like symptoms or a downward trajectory in positive tests.
- The criteria also included hospitals having the resources to
treat all patients without crisis care and a robust testing program for
healthcare workers.
CONTINUING TO PROTECT AMERICANS: These new guidelines represent the
next phase in President Trump’s data-based approach to protect the
health and wellbeing of Americans.
- Thanks to the commitment and sacrifices of Americans across the
country, we have seen critical progress in flattening the curve.
- A long-term nationwide shutdown is not sustainable and would
inflict wide-ranging harm on the health and wellbeing of our citizens.
- The President’s data-based approach will protect the health and
safety of Americans while laying the groundwork for economic growth.
- These guidelines will allow healthy Americans to safely return to
work as conditions allow while protecting seniors and other vulnerable
Americans.
LEADING A HISTORIC MOBILIZATION: President Trump has led a historic
mobilization to rapidly ramp up testing and the distribution of medical
supplies.
- President Trump mobilized the full resources of the Government
and the private sector to increase the production and distribution of
supplies like masks and ventilators.
- President Trump utilized the Defense Production Act, and the
private sector responded, with numerous companies stepping up to shift
production to make medical supplies.
- The Administration launched Project Airbridge to airlift supplies
to the United States from around the world.
- The President surged resources and personnel to assist healthcare
providers on the frontlines.
- At the President’s direction, the military and FEMA stood up
emergency medical sites around the country, and two naval ships were
deployed to assist hospitals.
- President Trump has led an unprecedented effort to ramp up
testing across the country.
- The Administration has provided emergency use authority for
dozens of new commercial tests.
- The United States has now conducted more than 3.5 million tests –
far more than any other country in the world.
- The Food and Drug Administration continues to authorize new
antibody tests that will be critical as we move toward the next phase.
- Because of President Trump’s decisive early action, we have been
able to get needed medical supplies to our healthcare workers on the
frontlines and avoid deadly shortfalls.
- No American who has needed a ventilator has gone without one.
- States like New York, California, Washington, and Oregon have
even been able to send extra ventilators to other areas that need them.
Americans
for
Limited
Government
April 14, 2020
Time to turn the American engine on again
By
Rick Manning
“Fear Not.” These are the words that Mary heard from the Angel Gabriel
who then told her that “she had found great favor in the Lord,”
announcing that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
Even Mary found fear in the face of the unknown and needed to be
reassured. Mary knew the path ahead would be hard as an unwed
pregnant girl, and could not see more than the next footstep before
her, yet she listened, believed and embraced her blessing.
Upon Jesus’ birth, according to the Book of Luke, an angel appeared to
shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem saying, “Fear not, for
behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people.”
In fact, “be not afraid” and “fear not” are among the most common
messages from God to his people.
Is it any wonder that even Americans who are accustomed to freedoms
foreign to many of the people around the world, have been so easily
convinced to engage in social distancing in response to the China
originated COVID-19 virus? Fear is a powerful motivator.
However, fear is the enemy of freedom and it is time for President
Trump to lay a pathway forward for America’s economic re-opening that
our nation’s governors can use as a guidepost for jumpstarting America
as we enter the rapid downward trajectory of the viruses impact arc.
Yesterday, President Trump told the nation, “We’re very close to
completing a plan to open our country.” And we really need that.
Now today, President Trump is convening a special council on re-opening
the economy consisting of key economic leaders in the nation. In
order to overcome the health fears, this panel will help inform America
about the economic damage being done by the social distancing strategy
while using their combined wisdom to develop a way forward to re-open
the economy as fast as possible and help ensure the survival of the
free market system.
The obvious emphasis should be on the local situations facing each
state and individual community. It makes little sense to create a
one-sized fits all strategy. The New York City metropolitan area
has different legitimate concerns than Casper, Wyoming and these
differences should be respected in any national guidelines created.
Lives being saved is important, and that is why President Trump called
the decision on when to re-open the economy the toughest one that he
has to make. It is imperative that the President also be aware of
the lives cost from the suicides, drug overdoses and addiction and the
other deaths of despair that go hand in hand with economic
depression. And that is what our nation is dangerously close to
falling into.
In about six weeks, our nation has gone from the best economy in at
least 70 years with the fewest number of people unemployed than at any
time since the year 2000 to unprecedented levels of unemployment
insurance claims indicating that the unemployment numbers may be
approaching 20 million. Six weeks ago, small businesses were
optimistic and thriving, with a month and a half into the social
distancing disaster, Main Street is in danger of resembling an old West
ghost town.
Now it will be up to this council to take steps to re-open
America. There will be a risk in re-opening our economy, but it
is certain that our nation will face a long-term economic disaster if
we don’t restore our nation’s freedoms.
President Trump faced a terrible decision when the virus started
washing over our shores. He has been operating on a full alert status
using every waking hour in the fight to contain and mitigate the
virus. He willingly sacrificed his economic legacy in order to
protect America from a projected million plus deaths. Now, it is
time for America to overcome fear and begin the process of turning free
enterprise loose so American greatness can be restored.
Rick Manning is
the
President
of
Americans
for
Limited
Government.
The
White
House
April 14, 2020
President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival
Industry Groups
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced many of the esteemed
executives, economists, scholars, and industry leaders who together
will form various Great American Economic Revival Industry
Groups. These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work
together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future
of unparalleled American prosperity. The health and wealth of
America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more
independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.
Agriculture
American Farm Bureau Federation – Zippy Duvall
Sysco Corporation – Kevin Hourican
Tyson Foods, Inc. – Dean Banks
Perdue Farms, Inc. – Randy Day
Cargill, Inc. – David MacLennan
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company – Juan Luciano
Corteva Agriscience – Jim Collins
Tractor Supply Company – Hal Lawton
Seaboard Corporation – Steven Bresky
Grimmway Farms – Barbara Grimm
Mountaire Farms – Ronnie Cameron
Banking
Bank of America – Brian Moynihan
JPMorgan Chase – Jamie Dimon
Goldman Sachs – David Solomon
Citigroup – Michael Corbat
Wells Fargo – Charles Scharf
U.S. Bancorp – Andrew Cecere
Morgan Stanley – James Gorman
Grand Rapids State Bank – Noah Wilcox
Southern Bancorp – Darrin Williams
Construction/Labor/Workforce
International Union of Operating Engineers – Jim Callahan
North America’s Building Trades Union – Sean McGarvey
Laborers’ International Union of North America – Terry O’Sullivan
International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Jim Hoffa
National Electrical Contractors Association – David Long
Bechtel – Brendan Bechtel
Fluor – Carlos Hernandez
National Association of Home Builders – Jerry Howard
Associated Builders and Contractors – Michael Bellaman
Associated General Contractors – Stephen Sandherr
AFL-CIO – Richard Trumka
GH Palmer – Geoff Palmer
American Council of Engineering Companies – Linda Bauer Darr
Defense
Lockheed Martin – Marillyn Hewson
Honeywell – Darius Adamczyk
Northrop Grumman – Kathy Warden
Raytheon – Gregory J. Hayes
General Dynamics – Phebe Novakovic
Energy
ExxonMobil – Darren Woods
Continental Resources – Harold Hamm
Chevron – Mike Wirth
Southern Company – Tom Fanning
Alabama Power – Mark Crosswhite
ConocoPhillips – Ryan Lance
Occidental Petroleum – Vicki Hollub
Kinder Morgan – Steven Kean
Hess Corporation – John Hess
Perot Group and Hillwood – Ross Perot Jr.
National Mining Association – Rich Nolan
Valero – Joseph Gorder
Financial Services
Blackstone – Stephen Schwarzman
Paulson & Co. – John Paulson
Citadel LLC – Kenneth Griffin
Elliott Management – Paul Singer
Vista Equity Partners – Robert Smith
Fidelity Investments – Abigail Johnson
Mastercard – Ajay Banga
Visa – Al Kelly
Chubb – Evan Greenberg
Sequoia Capital – Doug Leone
Stephens, Inc. – Warren Stephens
Charles Schwab – Chuck Schwab
FIS Global – Gary Norcross
TD Ameritrade – Todd Ricketts
Intuit – Sasan Goodarzi
Food & Beverage
National Restaurant Association – Marvin Irby
McDonald’s – Chris Kempczinski
Darden Restaurants – Gene Lee Jr.
Coca-Cola – James Quincey
PepsiCo – Ramon Laguarta
Chick-fil-A – Dan Cathy
Subway – John Chidsey
Bloomin’ Brands – David Deno
YUM! Brands – David Gibbs
Papa Johns – Rob Lynch
Wendy’s – Todd Penegor
Waffle House – Walt Ehmer
Starbucks – Kevin Johnson
Wolfgang Puck
Thomas Keller
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Daniel Boulud
M Crowd Restaurant – Ray Washburne
Jimmy John’s Founder – Jimmy John Liautaud
Kraft – Michael Mullen
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors – Dirk Van Dongen
International Franchise Association – Robert Cresanti
Inspire Brands – Paul Brown
Healthcare
NewYork-Presbyterian – Jerry Speyer
HCA Healthcare – Sam Hazen
Ascension Health – Joseph R. Impicciche
CommonSpirit Health – Lloyd H. Dean
Community Health Systems – Wayne Smith
Trinity Health – Benjamin Carter
Cardinal Health – Mike Kaufmann
McKesson – Brian Tyler
3M – Mike Roman
Procter & Gamble – David S. Taylor
Abbott Laboratories – Robert Ford
Johnson & Johnson – Alex Gorsky
Merck – Kenneth Frazier
Pfizer – Dr. Albert Bourla
Eli Lilly and Company – Dave Ricks
Thermo Fisher Scientific – Marc Casper
Gilead Sciences – Daniel O’Day
AbbVie – Richard Gonzalez
Regeneron – Len Schleifer
Biogen – Michel Vounatsos
Roche Diagnostics – Matthew Sause
Anthem – Gail Boudreaux
UnitedHealth Group – David Wichmann
Aetna – Karen Lynch
Cigna – David Cordani
Humana – Bruce Broussard
Centene – Michael Neidorff
Hospitality
Las Vegas Sands Corp. – Sheldon Adelson
Marriott – Arne Sorenson
Carnival – Micky Arison
Hilton – Christopher Nassetta
Hyatt – Mark Hoplamazian
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – Geoff Ballotti
Intercontinental Hotels Group – Elie Maalouf
Royal Caribbean – Richard Fain
Norwegian Cruise Lines – Frank Del Rio
Treasure Island Hotels – Phil Ruffin
Manufacturing
Caterpillar – Jim Umpleby III
Deere & Company – John May
Cummins – Tom Linebarger
Dow Inc. – James Fitterling
Emerson Electric Company – David Farr
General Electric – Larry Culp
Tesla – Elon Musk
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Mike Manley
Ford Motor Company – Bill Ford
General Motors Company – Mary Barra
National Association of Manufacturers – Jay Timmons
Pernod Ricard – Ann Mukherjee
Nucor – Leon Topalian
Real Estate
Simon Property Group – David Simon
Caruso – Rick Caruso
Vornado Realty Trust – Steven Roth
Related Companies – Stephen Ross
Blackstone – Jon Gray
Irvine Company – Don Bren
Starwood Capital Group – Barry Sternlicht
Witkoff Group – Steve Witkoff
Greystar – Robert Faith
Retail
Walmart – Doug McMillon
Home Depot – Craig Menear
Home Depot – Ken Langone
Home Depot – Bernie Marcus
The Kroger Co. – Rodney McMullen
Lowe’s – Marvin Ellison
Target – Brian Cornell
CVS Health – Larry Merlo
Rite Aid – Heyward Donigan
Walgreens – Stefano Pessina
Amazon – Jeff Bezos
Menards – John Menard
Best Buy – Hubert Joly
Life Time – Bahram Akradi
National Retail Federation – Matthew Shay
Tech
Apple – Tim Cook
Google (Alphabet Inc) – Sundar Pichai
Oracle – Larry Ellison
Oracle – Safra Catz
Salesforce – Marc Benioff
SAP – Jen Morgan
Microsoft – Satya Nadella
Facebook – Mark Zuckerberg
IBM – Arvind Krishna
Intel – Bob Swan
Qualcomm – Steven Mollenkopf
Cisco – Chuck Robbins
Advanced Micro Devices – Lisa Su
Broadcom – Hock Tan
Micron – Sanjay Mehrotra
Telecommunications
Liberty Media – John Malone
Verizon – Hans Vestberg
T-Mobile – Mike Sievert
Charter Communications – Thomas Rutledge
Comcast – Brian Roberts
Altec – Lee Styslinger
Transportation
FedEx – Fred Smith
United Airlines – Oscar Munoz
UPS – David Abney
J.B. Hunt – John Roberts III
YRC Worldwide – Darren Hawkins
Crowley Maritime – Tom Crowley Jr.
Uber – Dara Khosrowshani
DHL – Mike Parra
LDJ Global Strategies – Louis DeJoy
American Trucking Associations – Chris Spear
Sports
NBA – Adam Silver
MLB – Rob Manfred
NFL – Roger Goodell
UFC – Dana White
PGA – Jay Monahan
LPGA – Mike Whan
USTA – Patrick Galbraith
MLS – Don Garber
WWE – Vince McMahon
NASCAR – Lesa Kennedy
NHL – Gary Bettman
New England Patriots – Bob Kraft
Dallas Cowboys – Jerry Jones
Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban
WNBA – Cathy Engelbert
NWSL – Lisa Baird
Thought
Leaders/Groups
John Allison
Kay Coles James
Condoleezza Rice
Art Laffer
Steve Moore
Steve Forbes
Larry Lindsey
Catherine Reynolds
Jim DeMint
Bill Hagerty
Scott Gottlieb
Biden
for
President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2020
ICYMI: Joe Biden Outlines Plan to
Safely Reopen America in New York Times Op-Ed
Today, Joe Biden authored a new op-ed in the New York Times
that lays out a national strategy to get America on track
for reopening our economy, emphasizing the critical public
health steps that must be taken to do so safely.
Vice President Biden writes that we must decrease the number
of COVID-19 cases, implement widespread testing, and expand the
capacity of our health care system so that we can
begin reopening businesses and getting people back to work.
Additionally, Biden would convene top industry experts from
across the private sector to develop ideas on how to operate more
safely, direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to
work alongside organized labor and employee groups to ensure workers
have the protections they need, and prioritize getting personal
protective equipment to our health care workers.
He also highlights the Trump Administration's slow response to this
crisis and the need to prevent repeating their mistakes, writing, “As
we prepare to reopen America, we have to remember what this
crisis has taught us: The administration’s failure to plan, to prepare,
to honestly assess and communicate the threat to the nation led to
catastrophic results. We cannot repeat those mistakes.”
Read the full op-ed below.
New York Times:
Joe Biden:
My
Plan
to
Safely Reopen America
By Joe Biden, 4/12/20
People across America are stepping up to the plate. Millions are
performing essential services at great personal risk, and millions more
are staying at home, away from friends and extended family. In return,
they want the answer to a simple question: What is the plan to
safely reopen America?
So far, the Trump administration hasn’t supplied an answer.
The plan has to start with responding effectively to the immediate
medical crisis and ultimately lead to the widespread availability and
administration of a vaccine. But we can’t stay home and just wait for
the vaccine to arrive. As others have noted, we need to build a bridge
from here to there. Here’s what our national strategy should look like.
First, we have to get the number of new cases of the disease down
significantly. That means social distancing has to continue and the
people on the front lines have to get the supplies and equipment they
need. President Trump needs to use his full powers under the Defense
Production Act to fight the disease with every tool at our disposal. He
needs to get the federal response organized and stop making excuses.
For more Americans to go back to their jobs, the president needs to do
better at his job.
Second, there needs to be widespread, easily available and prompt
testing — and a contact tracing strategy that protects privacy. A
recent report from Mr. Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services
made clear that we are far from achieving this goal.
We should be running multiple times the number of diagnostic tests
we’re performing right now. And we should be ready to scale up a second
form of testing: rapid serology tests to tell who has already been
infected with the coronavirus and has antibodies. This isn’t rocket
science; it’s about investment and execution. We are now several months
into this crisis, and still this administration has not squarely faced
up to the “original sin” in its failed response — the failure to test.
Third, we have to make sure that our hospitals and health care system
are ready for flare-ups of the disease that may occur when economic
activity expands again. Reopening the right way will still
not be completely safe. Public health officials will need to conduct
effective disease surveillance. Hospitals need to have the staff and
equipment necessary to handle any local outbreaks, and we need an
improved federal system to get help to these places as needed.
Make no mistake: An effective plan to beat the virus is the ultimate
answer to how we get our economy back on track. So we should stop
thinking of the health and economic responses as separate. They are not.
Once we have taken these steps, we can begin to reopen more
businesses and put more people back to work. Things will not go back to
“normal” right away. As public health experts have said, we should
expect activity to return gradually, with sites like offices and
stores reopening before arenas and theaters.
That’s why we need to be working right now on the conditions under
which our economy will operate as America gets back to work, and
ensuring that the financial support our families and small businesses
will need is fully in place.
As long as there is a significant risk that the virus can start
spreading again, we are going to have to do some things differently.
And the federal government should be leading the effort to figure that
out.
If I were president, I would convene top experts from the private
sector, industry by industry, to come up with new ideas on how to
operate more safely. Perhaps offices and factories will need to space
out workers and pursue other solutions to lessen risk of spread of the
virus on the job. Restaurants may need new layouts, with diners farther
apart.
From my talks with some industry leaders, I know that many are already
at work on these questions. Mr. Trump needs to accelerate this thinking
and make sure it is available to all businesses — including small
businesses, not just the largest companies.
Likewise, I would direct the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, working with organized labor and employee groups, to
figure out what protections workers need on the job during this period.
Getting protective gear to our health care workers and emergency
medical workers is the top priority — and one where we are still
lagging. But once that need is met, I’d ask the experts to figure out
what delivery workers, waiters, clerks and so many other professionals
need to be safe. And I would focus like a laser on the racial
disparities in Covid-19 cases.
Safe and effective treatment can help manage the risk of the
coronavirus. But of course, the only complete solution is finding a
vaccine to extinguish the threat it poses. Scientists are making great
strides on this, but discovering and testing a vaccine is only the
first step: Manufacturing sufficient doses and distributing it to reach
everyone is a huge challenge. The Trump administration should already
be reporting to the American people on its efforts.
As we prepare to reopen America, we have to remember what
this crisis has taught us: The administration’s failure to plan, to
prepare, to honestly assess and communicate the threat to the nation
led to catastrophic results. We cannot repeat those mistakes.
We know what we have to do. We have the tools, expertise and, now,
hard-won experience. The American people have already paid too high a
price in illness, death and economic loss. This time, the White House
has to get it right.
Joe Biden, the former vice president of the United States, is the
presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
###
MULTI-STATE
COORDINATION
Gov.
Gavin
Newsom
(D-CA)
April 13, 2020
California, Oregon & Washington Announce Western States Pact
West
Coast states agree region will move toward reopening based on
health outcomes
SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor
Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced an agreement on
a shared vision for reopening their economies and controlling COVID-19
into the future.
Joint statement from the Governors:
COVID-19 has preyed upon our interconnectedness. In the coming weeks,
the West Coast will flip the script on COVID-19 – with our states
acting in close coordination and collaboration to ensure the virus can
never spread wildly in our communities.
We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washington have agreed to
work together on a shared approach for reopening our economies – one
that identifies clear indicators for communities to restart public life
and business.
While each state is building a state-specific plan, our states have
agreed to the following principles as we build out a West Coast
framework:
–Our residents’ health comes
first. As home to one in six Americans and gateway to the
rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling
and ultimately defeating COVID-19.
–
Health outcomes and science – not
politics – will guide these decisions. Modifications to our
states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of
the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of
the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures
introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by
those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and
our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may
become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be
guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the
virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in
coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.
–
Our states will only be effective by
working together. Each state will work with its local leaders
and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on
the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach.
Through quick and decisive action, each of our states has made
significant progress in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of
COVID-19 among the broader public. Now, our public health leaders will
focus on four goals that will be critical for controlling the virus in
the future.
- Protecting
vulnerable
populations
at
risk
for
severe
disease
if
infected.
This
includes
a
concerted
effort
to
prevent
and fight outbreaks in nursing
homes and other long-term care facilities.
- Ensuring
an
ability
to
care
for
those
who
may
become
sick
with
COVID-19
and
other
conditions.
This
will require adequate hospital surge capacity
and supplies of personal protective equipment.
- Mitigating
the
non-direct
COVID-19
health
impacts,
particularly
on
disadvantaged
communities.
- Protecting
the
general
public
by
ensuring
any
successful
lifting
of
interventions
includes
the
development
of
a
system
for testing, tracking and
isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.
COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries. It will take
every level of government, working together, and a full picture of
what’s happening on the ground.
In the coming days the governors, their staff and health officials will
continue conversations about this regional pact to recovery.
###
Gov. Andrew Cuomo
(D-NY)
April 13, 2020
Massachusetts Joins New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island's Multi-State Council to Get
People Back to Work and Restore the Economy
Council Will Include
One Health Expert, One Economic Development Expert
and Respective Chiefs of Staff from Each State
Council Will
Develop a Fully Integrated Regional Framework to Gradually
Lift the States' Stay at Home Orders While Minimizing the Risk of
Increased Spread of the Virus
New Effort Builds
on the States' Ongoing Regional Approach to
Combatting COVID-19
Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, New
York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy,
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf,
Delaware Governor John Carney and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo
today announced Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is joining the
multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work.
This announcement builds on the states' ongoing regional approach to
combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coordinating group - comprised of one health expert, one economic
development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state --
will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to
gradually lift the states' stay at home orders while minimizing the
risk of increased spread of the virus.
The council will create this framework using every tool available to
accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering
renewed spread - including testing, contact tracing, treatment and
social distancing - and will rely on the best available scientific,
statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate
those tools.
"We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to
combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing
and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to
start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the
infection rate meter so we don't trigger a second wave of new
infections," Governor Cuomo said. "This is not a light switch that we
can just flick on and everything goes back to normal - we have to come
up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut
down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to
do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy.
New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state
council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to
gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back
up and running."
Governor Phil Murphy said, "No one has given more thought or is more
eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don't get the
sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a
sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery.
Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our
economy and get the residents of our state back to work while
minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional
approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us
avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look
forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our
restrictions and move our regional economy forward."
Governor Ned Lamont said, "One thing that's undeniable is that this
virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but
the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and
healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right
decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our
residents. We must solve these problems together."
Governor Tom Wolf said, "Our highest priority remains protecting the
health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues
to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also
recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach
to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don't undo all of our
efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both
in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy
that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually
restore our economy."
Governor John Carney said, "We still have a situation in Delaware that
is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are
rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don't go out in public
unnecessarily. Don't visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or
care for a family member. You'll only increase everyone's risk. At the
same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for
moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I'm grateful
for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all
working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect
hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives.
We'll get through this by working together."
Governor Gina Raimondo said, "States are taking the lead as we fight to
slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I'm proud of the steps
we've taken, and I'm constantly thinking about what it will take to
safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not
recognize borders, and it's clear we need a strong, coordinated
regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I'm grateful
to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I'm
confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get
Rhode Islanders -- and all Americans -- back to work safely."
Governor Charlie Baker said, "The Baker-Polito Administration looks
forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and
experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure
hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front
lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."
____________
Governor Cuomo, Governor Murphy, Governor Lamont, Governor Wolf,
Governor Carney, Governor Raimondo Announce Multi-State Council to Get
People Back to Work and Restore the Economy
Council
Will
Include
One
Health
Expert,
One
Economic
Development Expert and
Respective Chiefs of Staff from Each State
Council Will Develop a Fully Integrated Regional Framework to Gradually
Lift the States' Stay at Home Orders While Minimizing the Risk of
Increased Spread of the Virus
New Effort Builds on the States' Ongoing Regional Approach to
Combatting COVID-19
Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, New
York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy,
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf,
Delaware Governor John Carney and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo
today announced the creation of a multi-state council to restore the
economy and get people back to work. This announcement builds on the
states' ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coordinating group - comprised of one health expert, one economic
development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state --
will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to
gradually lift the states' stay at home orders while minimizing the
risk of increased spread of the virus.
The council will create this framework using every tool available to
accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering
renewed spread - including testing, contact tracing, treatment and
social distancing - and will rely on the best available scientific,
statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate
those tools.
"We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to
combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing
and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to
start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the
infection rate meter so we don't trigger a second wave of new
infections," Governor Cuomo said. "This is not a light switch that we
can just flick on and everything goes back to normal - we have to come
up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut
down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to
do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy.
New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state
council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to
gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back
up and running."
This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything
goes back to normal - we have to come up with a smart, consistent
strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to
work.
Governor Phil Murphy said, "No one has given more thought or is more
eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don't get the
sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a
sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery.
Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our
economy and get the residents of our state back to work while
minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional
approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us
avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look
forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our
restrictions and move our regional economy forward."
Governor Ned Lamont said, "One thing that's undeniable is that this
virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but
the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and
healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right
decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our
residents. We must solve these problems together."
Governor Tom Wolf said, "Our highest priority remains protecting the
health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues
to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also
recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach
to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don't undo all of our
efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both
in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy
that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually
restore our economy."
Governor John Carney said, "We still have a situation in Delaware that
is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are
rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don't go out in public
unnecessarily. Don't visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or
care for a family member. You'll only increase everyone's risk. At the
same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for
moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I'm grateful
for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all
working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect
hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives.
We'll get through this by working together."
Governor Gina Raimondo said, "States are taking the lead as we fight to
slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I'm proud of the steps
we've taken, and I'm constantly thinking about what it will take to
safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not
recognize borders, and it's clear we need a strong, coordinated
regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I'm grateful
to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I'm
confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get
Rhode Islanders -- and all Americans -- back to work safely."
Gov.
JB
Pritzker
(D-IL)
April 15, 2020
Midwest Governors Announce Partnership to Reopen Regional Economy
Chicago —
Today, Governors JB Pritzker (IL), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Mike DeWine
(OH), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), Eric Holcomb (IN) and Andy
Beshear (KY) announced that they will work in close coordination to
reopen the economy in the Midwest region.
The governors said, "We are doing everything we can to protect the
people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager
to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused
in our region. Here in the Midwest, we are bound by our commitment to
our people and the community. We recognize that our economies are all
reliant on each other, and we must work together to safely reopen them
so hardworking people can get back to work and businesses can get back
on their feet.
"Today, we are announcing that Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Indiana, and Kentucky will work in close coordination to
reopen our economies in a way that prioritizes our workers' health. We
look forward to working with experts and taking a fact-based,
data-driven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protect
families from the spread of COVID-19.
"Our number one priority when analyzing when best to reopen our economy
is the health and safety of our citizens. We will make decisions based
on facts, science, and recommendations from experts in health care,
business, labor, and education.
"We will closely examine at least these four factors when determining
when best to reopen our economy:
• Sustained control of the rate of new infections and
hospitalizations.
• Enhanced ability to test and trace.
• Sufficient health care capacity to handle resurgence.
• And best practices for social distancing in the workplace.
"Phasing in sectors of our economy will be most effective when we work
together as a region. This doesn't mean our economy will reopen all at
once, or that every state will take the same steps at the same time.
But close coordination will ensure we get this right. Over time, people
will go back to work, restaurants will reopen, and things will go back
to normal. We look forward to working together as one region to tackle
this challenge together."
INDIVIDUAL STATES
CALIFORNIA
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
April 17, 2020
Governor Newsom Taps California Business, Labor, Health Care
and Community Leaders for New Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery
Governor appoints business and civic
leader Tom Steyer Chief Advisor to the Governor on Business and Jobs
Recovery
Task Force will be co-chaired by Governor’s Chief of Staff Ann O’Leary
and Steyer
Brings together Californians from across diverse range of the state’s
economy to develop recommendations for a plan that works for all
Californians, with a focus on the regions and communities hardest hit
by the pandemic
Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, Disney
Executive Chairman Bob Iger, ILWU President Willie
Adams, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation
Antonia Hernandez, former head of the Small Business Administration
Aida Álvarez and Apple CEO Tim Cook will be part of the Task Force
stepping up to help California pave the way toward a fast, safe
recovery of jobs
All of California’s former governors and California’s legislative
leaders across both political parties join the task force
SACRAMENTO – Bringing together leaders across California’s diverse,
innovative economic and social sectors to chart a path forward on
recovery in the wake of COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced
the formation of a state Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. The
Task Force will be co-chaired by Governor Newsom’s Chief of Staff Ann
O’Leary and philanthropist, environmentalist and businessman Tom
Steyer, who was also appointed Chief Advisor to the Governor on
Business and Jobs Recovery. He will receive no compensation for his
service.
Members of the Task Force include Senate President pro Tempore Toni
Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate Minority Leader Shannon
Grove, Assembly Minority Leader Marie Waldron, former Federal Reserve
Chair Janet Yellen, Walt Disney Company Executive Chairman Bob
Iger, former head of the Small Business Administration
Aida Álvarez and dozens of prominent leaders in business,
labor, health care, academia and philanthropy.
Read the full list of
Task
Force
members
here.
“This pandemic has forced millions of Californians out of jobs – with
the most vulnerable hit the hardest,” said Governor Newsom. “While
we have made significant progress in flattening the curve and
increased preparedness of our health care delivery system, the actions
taken have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall health care
in California. We will use a gradual, science-based and data-driven
framework to guide our re-opening timing while planning our economic
recovery. I am honored that dozens of leaders in business, labor,
health and philanthropy are stepping up to meet this moment by
committing their time and talent to lift up all Californians. Through
their leadership, and the leadership of California’s 40 million
residents, I have no doubt we will emerge stronger from this crisis.”
The Task Force will work to develop actions government and businesses
can take to help Californians recover as fast as safely possible from
the COVID-19 induced recession and to shape a fair, green, and
prosperous future. They will meet twice a month throughout 2020 to
develop options that would work for all Californians, with a
particular focus on those hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Governor Newsom has been a steady hand and shining example of how to
lead during a crisis, and I am thrilled to help in this critical way,”
said Tom Steyer. “In the coming weeks and months, we will bring
together the public and private sectors, outside experts, organized
labor, environmental groups, and activists to develop recommendations
for a recovery plan that works for all Californians, with an emphasis
on those communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Our goal is to
present Governor Newsom with tangible actions that leverage the task
force’s expertise to rebuild California, emphasize smart, green
technologies and provide a model for just economic development for our
country.”
The Task Force will craft ideas for short, medium, and long-term
solutions that reflect communities across the state, and emphasize a
fair and equitable recovery. There will be significant emphasis of the
state’s strengths, including diversity and innovation. The Task Force
will not only focus on our immediate recovery, but on actions to
support a cleaner, more equitable and prosperous future for all
Californians. It will build on the important work of other groups
including the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, the Higher
Education Council and the Commission on the Future of Work. Both
co-chairs of the Future of Work Commission, President of SEIU Mary
Kay Henry and Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company James Manyika,
will serve on the new Task Force.
The Governor formed the Business and Jobs Recovery Task Force just days
after he announced a multi-state Task Force with Oregon and Washington
to coordinate the reopening of our regional economy. Governor Newsom
outlined a road map to recovery with six indicators that should be met
before California’s stay-at-home orders are modified.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on California’s
economy. The state has seen more than 2.8 million unemployment
claims since March 12, 2020 – not including undocumented residents or
independent contractors. The impact has been particularly devastating
for California’s small businesses.
###
Gov.
Gavin
Newsom
(D-CA)
April 14, 2020
Governor Newsom Outlines Six Critical Indicators the State
will Consider Before Modifying the Stay-at-Home Order and Other
COVID-19 Interventions
VIEW
HERE: Governor unveils six key indicators that will be considered
before modifying state’s stay-at-home order
SACRAMENTO
– Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled
six
key
indicators that will guide California’s thinking for
when and how to modify the stay-at-home and other orders during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The
Governor noted that the progress in flattening the curve, increased
preparedness of our health care delivery system and the effects of
other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. However,
these actions have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall
health care in California. Any consideration of modifying the
stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and
data-driven framework.
“While
Californians have stepped up in a big way to flatten the curve and buy
us time to prepare to fight the virus, at some point in the future we
will need to modify our stay-at-home order,” said Governor Newsom. “As
we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by
science and data, and we must understand that things will look
different than before.”
Until
we build immunity, our actions will be aligned to achieve the following:
- Ensure
our
ability
to
care
for
the
sick
within
our
hospitals;
- Prevent
infection
in
people
who
are
at
high
risk
for
severe
disease;
- Build
the
capacity
to
protect
the
health
and
well-being
of
the
public;
and
- Reduce
social,
emotional
and
economic
disruptions
California’s
six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are:
- The
ability
to
monitor
and
protect
our
communities
through
testing,
contact
tracing,
isolating,
and
supporting
those
who
are
positive
or
exposed;
- The
ability
to
prevent
infection
in
people
who
are
at
risk
for
more
severe
COVID-19;
- The
ability
of
the
hospital
and
health
systems
to
handle
surges;
- The
ability
to
develop
therapeutics
to
meet
the
demand;
- The
ability
for
businesses,
schools,
and
child
care
facilities
to
support
physical
distancing;
and
- The
ability
to
determine
when
to
reinstitute
certain
measures,
such
as
the
stay-at-home
orders,
if
necessary.
The
Governor said there is not a precise timeline for modifying the
stay-at-home order, but that these six indicators will serve as the
framework for making that decision.
He
also noted that things will look different as California makes
modifications. For example, restaurants will have fewer tables and
classrooms will be reconfigured.
For
more information on California’s response, visit covid19.ca.gov.
###
TEXAS
Gov.
Greg Abbott (R-TX)
April 17, 2020
Governor
Abbott Issues Executive Order Establishing Strike Force To Open Texas
Governor
Greg
Abbott
today
held
a
press
conference
where
he
issued
three
new
Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas
while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing
guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose
minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using
a "Retail-To-Go" model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been
loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the
2019-2020 academic year.
Within
these
orders,
the
Governor
has
established
the Strike
Force
to
Open
Texas—a team of nationally recognized medical experts
and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely
and strategically reopening the state of Texas.
"Texans
are
battling
a
colossal
challenge—an
invisible
enemy
that
has
tested
our
lives
and our livelihoods—but overcoming challenges is part of who
we are as Texans," said Governor Abbott. "We have shown that Texas can
continue our efforts to contain COVID-19 while also adopting safe
standards that will allow us to begin the process of reopening Texas.
The Strike Force to Open Texas brings together nationally recognized
medical experts with public and private sector leaders to achieve this
mission. By coming together, we can get Texans back to work, practice
safe standards that will prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we can
overcome this pandemic."
James
Huffines
will
lead
the
advisory
strike
force
and
Mike
Toomey
will
serve
as Chief Operating Officer. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House
Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Comptroller
Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members.
In
addition,
Governor
Abbott
has
appointed
Texas
Department
of
State
Health
Services
(DSHS)
Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, as Chief
Medical Officer of the strike force. Dr. Hellerstedt will be supported
by three Chief Medical Advisors:
John Zerwas,
MD, Executive Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of
Texas System
Mark McClellan,
MD,
PhD,
Former
Food
and
Drug
Administration
Commissioner
and
U.S.
Medicaid
and
Medicare Administrator
Parker Hudson,
MD,
MPH,
Assistant
Professor
of
Internal
Medicine
and
Infectious
Diseases
at
Dell
Medical School and program director for the Internal
Medicine Residency
These
health
experts
will
develop
a
medical
architecture
to
comprehensively
test
and
trace
COVID-19 that will enable Texans to gradually and safely
begin the process of returning to work and other activities.
The
medical
team
will
work
alongside
a
Special
Advisory
Council
who
will
share
innovative ideas to help businesses strategically reopen while
containing the spread of COVID-19. The council consists of 39 business
leaders representing the state's regions and industries. The advisory
council will collaborate with working groups to devise strategies,
statewide standards, and appropriate time frames to reopen the Lone
Star State while prioritizing the health and safety of all Texans.
The
strike
force
will
immediately
begin
providing
input
on
potential
additional
openings
of
activities and services in Texas consistent with
guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). The Governor will announce a revised plan for the state based on
these initial recommendations on April 27.
Special Advisory
Council members include:
Arcilia Acosta:
President
and
CEO,
CARCON
Industries
&
Construction
Paul Andrews, Jr.:
Founder
and
CEO,
TTI
Inc.
Mark Bivins: Rancher,
partner
in
Corsino
Cattle
Company
Kathy Britton:
CEO
and
Owner,
Perry
Homes
Brad Brookshire:
Chairman
and
CEO,
Brookshire
Grocery
Co.
J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.: Chairman,
Texas
Transportation
Commission
Alonzo Cantu: President
&
CEO
of
Cantu
Construction
Bobby Cox:
Owner and operator, Bobby Cox Companies, Inc.
Adriana Cruz: Executive
Director,
Economic
Development
&
Tourism
Division,
Office
of
the
Governor
Michael Dell:
Chairman
and
CEO,
Dell
Technologies
Scott Dueser: Chairman,
President
&
CEO,
First
Financial
Bank
Don Evans: Chairman
of
the
President
George
W.
Bush
Foundation,
Chairman
of
Permian
Strategic
Partnership
Tilman Fertitta: Chairman,
CEO,
and
sole
owner,
Landry's,
Inc.
Richard Fisher:
Senior
Advisor,
Barclays
and
Former
President
&
CEO,
the
Federal
Reserve
Bank
of Dallas
Rick Francis: Chairman
of
the
Board,
WestStar
Bank
Holding
Company,
Inc.
Printice Gary:
Founding
Partner/Principal
and
CEO,
Carleton
Companies
Brad Heffington: Owner
of
Heffington
Farms,
Inc.
and
Triple
T
Irrigation,
Inc.
Jeffery D. Hildebrand: Executive
Chairman
and
Founder,
Hilcorp
Energy
Company
Nancy Kinder: President
&
CEO,
Kinder
Foundation
Tom Luce: Founder
and
Chairman,
Texas
2036
Marc McDougal:
CEO,
McDougal
Companies
Jim "Mattress Mack"
McIngvale: Owner, Gallery Furniture
Drayton McLane: Chairman,
McLane
Group
Elaine Mendoza: Founder,
President
&
CEO
of
Conceptual
MindWorks,
Inc
Balous Miller:
Owner,
Bill
Miller
Bar-B-Q
Restaurants
Carla Moran:
Ramar Communications
Dennis Nixon: CEO
and
Chairman
of
International
Bank
of
Commerce
David Oliveira: Partner
at
Roerig,
Oliveira
&
Fisher,
L.L.P.
Ross Perot, Jr.:
Chairman,
The
Perot
Group
Kevin D. Roberts,
Ph.D.: Executive
Director,
Texas
Public
Policy
Foundation
Robert B. Rowling:
Owner
and
Chairman,
TRT
Holdings,
Inc.
Kendra Scott: Founder
and
CEO,
Kendra
Scott
Robert F. Smith: Founder,
Chairman
&
CEO,
Vista
Equity
Partners
Sam L. Susser: Chairman
of
BancAffiliated,
Inc.
Massey Villarreal: CEO
and
President,
Precision
Task
Group,
Inc.
Kirk Watson:
Founding Dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public
Affairs
Marc Watts: President,
The
Friedkin
Group
Graham Weston:
Former
Chairman
of
Rackspace
Hosting
Inc.
Sanjiv Yajnik:
President
of
the
Financial
Services
Division,
Capital
One
For
more
information
about
the
Governor's
Strike
Force
to
Open
Texas,
visit
the
strike force webpage.
The
Governor’s
second
Executive
Order
(GA-16) relates
to the safe, strategic reopening of select services and activities in
Texas. This order establishes a temporary "Retail-To-Go" model that
will allow retail outlets in Texas to reopen beginning Friday, April
24. Under this model, reopened establishments are required to deliver
items to customer's cars, homes, or other locations to minimize contact.
Under
this
Executive
Order,
schools
—
including
public,
private,
and
higher
education
institutions
— will remain closed for the 2019-2020 school
year. Teachers may go into the classroom for video instruction, to
perform administrative duties, and to clean out their classrooms.
The
Governor’s
third
Executive
Order
(GA-15) relates
to hospital capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for
the COVID-19 response. The order loosens restrictions on surgeries put
in
place
by
Governor
Abbott
in
March. Beginning at 11:59pm on April
21 through 11:59pm on May 8, all licensed health care professionals and
all licensed health care facilities must continue to postpone all
surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary to diagnose
or correct a serious medical condition of, or to preserve the life of,
a patient who without timely performance of the surgery or procedure
would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death as
determined by a patient's physician. Exceptions now include:
- Any procedure that, if
performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical
practice, would not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to
cope with COVID-19, or
- Any surgery or
procedure performed in a licensed health care facility that has
certified in writing to Texas HHSC both (1) that it will reserve at
least 25% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients,
accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, and
(2) that it will not request any PPE from any public source — whether
federal, state, or local — for the duration of the COVID-19
disaster.
The
Governor
today
also
directed state
parks
to
reopen
on
Monday,
April
20
with
strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19 –
including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a
six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and
prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.
American
Federation
of Teachers
For Release: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Contact: Andrew Crook
AFT Launches Landmark Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and
Communities
Union issues
blueprint for imagining a new normal for public education, public health
WASHINGTON—The American Federation of
Teachers has released a detailed road map that, in the absence of a
COVID-19 vaccine, charts a path to safely and responsibly reopen school
buildings and other institutions crucial to the well-being and economic
vitality of our communities.
The 20-page, science-based “Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and
Communities” sprung from an intense collaboration of public health
professionals, union leaders and frontline workers to prepare for what
happens next in the period between flattening the curve and truly
eradicating the virus.
It features five core pillars that inform our decision to reopen the
country based on the science as well as educator and healthcare
expertise—not on politics or wishful thinking.
To gradually reopen, we need to:
1. Maintain physical distancing until the number of new cases declines
for at least 14 consecutive days. Reducing the number of new cases is a
prerequisite for transitioning to reopening plans on a
community-by-community basis.
2. Put in place the infrastructure and resources to test, trace and
isolate new cases. Transitioning from community-focused physical
distancing and stay-in-place orders to case-specific interventions
requires ramping up the capacity to test, trace and isolate each new
case.
3. Deploy the public health tools that prevent the virus’ spread and
align them with education strategies that meet the needs of students.
4. Involve workers, unions, parents and communities in all planning.
Each workplace and community faces unique challenges related to
COVID-19. To ensure that reopening plans address those challenges,
broad worker and community involvement is necessary. They must be
engaged, educated and empowered.
5. Invest in recovery: Do not abandon America’s communities or forfeit
America’s future. These interventions will require more—not
less—investment in public health and in our schools, universities,
hospitals, and local and state governments. Strengthening communities
should be a priority in the recovery.
The blueprint acknowledges Americans’ eagerness to return to some
semblance of “normal.” But to do so, we must meet an unprecedented
challenge: figuring out how to reimagine our society and the physical
places we hold dear—public schools, places of worship, workplaces,
restaurants and more—in ways that put our ultimate priorities first:
the safety and well-being of working families, especially frontline
workers, and the economic health of society.
Our schools, in addition to educating students and acting as centers of
the community, enable parents to work outside the home, meaning their
safe reopening is a pivotal—if not the most pivotal—factor in remaking
the country.
The comprehensive document addresses complexities and provides specific
guidance for transitioning from lockdowns to other public health
approaches. And it is the only plan we know of that marries the
instructional and social-emotional needs of students and the logistics
of programming in schools with the imperative to adopt public health
tools that prevent viral transmission.
It shows how, in response to the crisis, we must plan and align
logistics, educational strategies and public health approaches into one
coherent response. And it is expected to evolve as the data, and the
facts, change.
AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “America is staring down a
singular challenge that will require all of us to come together and
negotiate a safe path forward. By drawing on facts and science, and the
expertise of educators and healthcare practitioners, we have drafted a
bold five-point plan that aligns necessary public health tools, student
instructional needs and logistics to gradually—but safely, equitably
and intentionally—reopen our schools and communities.
“Our blueprint serves as a stark contrast to the conflicting guidance,
bluster and lies of the Trump administration. The input of educators
and healthcare workers, as well as parents, is crucial in making any
reopening plan work. They are the eyes and ears, and are indispensable
in making any plan work safely and effectively. We hope this blueprint
will be the start of a real discussion on reopening schools,
universities and other workplaces that allows our workers and families
not only to dream of a safe and welcoming future, but to realize it.”
The plan can be read
here.
# # # #
The AFT represents 1.7 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers;
paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education
faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government
employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood
educators.
