US Government is Considering to Allow Americans to Return to Work Amid COVID-19 Crisis
The Trump administration is considering relaxing the coronavirus lockdown measures as early as Wednesday to let Americans with no symptoms go back to work.
In a first, small step towards opening the country, the government revealed new guidelines are in the works despite hitting a 14,000 coronavirus-related death toll. The United States continues to grapple with a devastated economy and medical crises due to the global pandemic.
Health experts urge Americans to practice social distancing and proper handwashing. They also warn residents to avoid returning to activities they did before the shelter-in-place orders.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House infectious disease expert, said relaxed policies are in order should social distancing measures successfully curb the spread of the virus.
Back to normal
Fauci said he and the other members of the COVID-19 task force are reviewing practical steps to help ease the nation "toward some sort of normality" at the end of the month.
COVID-19 has changed the lives of many people, not just in the US. But, should things return to normal by fall, Americans would still need to wash their hands frequently. Children who are sick should stay at home. People who have compromised immune systems should refrain from reporting to work as well.
Fauci said he hopes that the health crisis will prompt governments to look at long-term investments in the public health sector. He also hopes that the US would prepare should another virus threaten the safety of the residents.
New guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will release the new guidelines within the week. Under the proposal, people who have been exposed to the virus but show no symptoms will be allowed to go back to work. The workers will be required to wear a face mask and have their temperature taken twice a day.
Recent studies showed that about 10 percent of new coronavirus cases are due to contact with asymptomatic individuals. Scientists say people who do not show flu-like symptoms are still contagious. They also said it's possible for someone who has recovered to remain contagious.
In a previous interview, CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, said 25 percent of people infected with COVID-19 might not even develop any symptoms. In a press briefing on Sunday, Fauci estimated 50 percent of all infected Americans remain asymptomatic.
The NIAID director clarified that the figures are just estimates. "I don't have scientific data yet to say that," he said.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator for the coronavirus task force, said they are hopeful the initial projection of 100,000 to 240,000 deaths will not happen as Americans have been following the 30-day guidelines.
The United States still has the highest number of cases in the world. Health officials have reported 430,271 COVID-19 cases since the first reported case in the nation on January 19, 2020. Since then, 14,738 have died.
Researchers say the virus has yet to peak. A model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggests the US will reach a peak use of medical resources by the end of the week.
Birx explained that the model is based on what Americans are doing. She praised the citizens for adapting to and following through the necessary changes. "That's what will change the rate of mortality going forward," she said.
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