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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has said the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire on Thursday.
Trump said he plans to resume official travel with a trip to Arizona next week and hopes to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.
The White House has been trying to pivot to a new stage of the crisis, focused on efforts to reopen the nation’s economy state-by-state amid concerns that lifting restrictions too quickly without sufficient testing and contact tracing will spur a resurgence.
“We’re heartened that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us,” Trump said as he led a roundtable with executives from companies like Hilton and Toyota.
The president laid out a vision of a return to pre-coronavirus normalcy — “with or without” a vaccine — with packed restaurants and filled stadiums.
That vision flies in the face of sober assessments from doctors who say the country will need to embrace a “new normal” that includes extended social distancing and mask-wearing.
“I don’t want people to get used to this,” Trump told reporters. “I see the new normal being what it was three months ago.”
The United States recorded 2,502 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the latest real-time tally on Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University.
After two days of a relative easing in the toll on Sunday and Monday, the numbers have spiked again the past two days.
At least 60,853 people have now died in the country, according to the Baltimore-based university.
‘Wouldn’t look too good’
To underscore his confidence, the president announced that he plans to resume out-of-state travel after spending more than a month mostly cooped up in the White House.
He said he is planning a trip to Arizona next week, followed by a possible trip to Ohio, even as much of the country remains under effective lockdown with all but essential travel banned.
“We’re going to start to move around and hopefully in the not too distant future, we’ll have some massive rallies and people will be sitting next to each other,” he said, adding that having people spaced out in accordance with social distancing guidelines “wouldn’t look too good”.
Trump said the timing would depend, in part, on the states, since some have had far fewer cases than others.
The announcement came after the president said he will not be extending the White House’s “30 Days to Slow the Spread” guidelines when they expire on Thursday.
“They’ll be fading out because now the governors are doing it,” Trump told reporters.
Those guidelines — which were originally supposed to last 15 days and were then extended an additional 30 — encouraged Americans to work from home and avoid restaurants, group gatherings and discretionary travel and advised older Americans and those with serious underlying health conditions to isolate themselves.
Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually ease restrictions and begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows.
The White House yesterday was also pointing to the prospect of an experimental drug, Remdesivir, which proved effective against the virus in a major new study.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said the drug reduced the time it takes patients to recover by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.
“It’s highly significant,” Dr Fauci said. “What it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.”
- With reporting from AFP
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Will someone tell him it’s better to rest at home than Rest In Peace and be 6 feet apart than 6 feet under
@trebloc01: If I had to guess, I would guess that Trump’s advisors have come to the conclusion that so little has been done so far, the only thing they can do now is herd immunity. They are only starting to talk about contact tracing in the past few days.
@Peter Cavey: yes but as it stands they aren’t sure once someone had it they are immune so its a huge gamble with people’s lives. It least we are slowing the spread with our actions
@Peter Cavey: So little done- By a country who have more tests than any other country on the planet, more tests per capita than all major countries, and have a better rate per capita than we do.
Think your anti trump bias may be showing their Pete?
@Peter Cavey: Herd immunity refers to animals.
Please use community spread.
We are not at war with a virus. Our bodies will absorb the virus at some stage and create natural defences unless extremely vulnerable.
@TESSERACT2020: you might elaborate on why your twitter account has been suspended
@Colm: Have never tweeted, youd have to ask Jack. Nice deflection though
@TESSERACT2020:….. More infections, more deaths, more idiots running the country….. USA, the land of More
@TESSERACT2020: That’s ALL LIES!!
“more tests per capita than all major countries,” – LIES, Germany is WAY up there as are we.
“better rate per capita than we do” – because they’re not accurately counting the dead! That was made clear with a comparison of expected dead this year versus the last 5 years as per the NY Times yesterday.
Honestly don’t you ever get tired of lying for your dear leader?
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/full-list-cumulative-total-tests-per-thousand?time=2020-03-07..&country=IRL+GBR+USA+DEU+CHE+AUS
@TESSERACT2020: Please see https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/. The US has 19,013 tests per 1m population. That’s far lower than the average countries. In fact, lower than Ireland who stands at 31,179 tests per 1m population.
@TESSERACT2020: I’m afraid you’ve got your facts wrong. Please see https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/. The US has tested 19,013 per 1m population. Ireland, with 31,179 has tested far more. Scroll through the list and you can see that there are tons of countries who have tested more extensively than the US. Not a witch hunt against Trump, just a fact.
If planes of US holiday makers start arriving here while there’s over a million infected there, there’ll be absolutel ruptions. They should halt travel from the US if he isn’t going to bother doing the basics to protect from the spread. Madness. His recklessness will cause a second surge of cases and if nothing else, the voters will see him for what he really is. A bag of gowls.
@Dawn Harvey: We have to impose a quarantine period on anyone arriving from there.
@Dawn Harvey: not a hope! Europe let alone Ireland wouldn’t ever put a travel ban on Americans entering. I wish they would! But they won’t…
@Aaron Tynan: why wouldn’t they?
@Anne Marie Devlin: exactly. Here in oz you do 14 days quarantine in hotel of government / state choosing guarded by police army. Thus very low death rate curve etc. Also means all international travel in or out not practical. So long term who knows. I think USA admin are going sod it ,cull the weak and old and let’s get back to business.
@Dawn Harvey: Id be more worried for the welfare of US citizens coming here due to our disastrous handling of the crisis!
@JackSimpson: you think we should copy the americans instead jack?. Put down the dethol there like a good man and take off the make Ireland great again hata.
@JackSimpson: Jack you must have a hollow head if you think that.
@JackSimpson: you drunk?
@Dawn Harvey: why on earth would planeloads of Americans come to a country where everything’s closed?
@EillieEs: because we will tentatively start opening up soon and they will have places to go. I’m not talking about now, I’m talking about in a months time when the Americans are riddled with it because of allowing mass rallies and gatherings. They come here and we are then fooked again. Sorry but unless a country has a handle or is trying to at least, they shouldn’t be allowed spread to the world.
@JackSimpson: eh, no. I’m happy with how it’s been handled… We haven’t had thousands of deaths, it ain’t perfect but we are managing a shit situation as well as can be expected. The Americans on the other hand are going to have rallies and gatherings within a couple of weeks listening to the trumpidor
At least the yanks wont have to queue at the Tourist spots!!…
@EillieEs: I have seen tourists around Howth. Everything is closed but still here.
Trumpid 2020… The most dangerous virus of them all.
@Willie Murphy: brought on by the moronavirus
@Dave Thomas: still not as contagious as TDS.
@JackSimpson: what about trump arselick syndrome
@Willie Murphy: The Fake Leader
If he is willing to open the Virus flood gates in America that’s for America to deal with but Europe should ban all travel from America. He can be responsible for thousands of deaths on his own door step but not mine!
@Brendan Redmond:
100% right but here we will see the power of money.. EU will put multinationals, many of which are US based ahead of safety. We can even see this already. Intel in Leixlip is going ahead at full steam, excusing themselves by saying that it would take months to switch off the factory. I have a friend working there who has to go to work every day and for what? Processors and servers are not a life or death product.
@Wreck Tangle: depending on how they’re used, they could be. Ventilators need processors. Lots of other medical equipment need computer parts as well. And then, what about people working from home? What if they have to replace a computer? Banks use servers, as does pretty much every huge service.
@Wreck Tangle: Big blue chips will put Social Distancing in measures in place. They are massively profitable and their products are in demand.
Technically I would imagine the cleanroom environment, probably offers some protection too. High level of automation would mean a skeleton or only 1/3rd of staff need attend. OK this is still massive numbers, but over a massive site with lots of automation – its grand.
Unfortunately there are a lot of SMES who require cheek to jowl work – slaughterhouses , foodservice, our cafes and shops.. THats where its more sensitive.
@Brendan Redmond: can they tell the same to Sweden I wonder.
@Wreck Tangle: Intel also have the excuse that there’s few places safer than in a hazmat suit in a clean room!
He’s botched this thing every single decision he has made . He’s increased his personal wealth vastly in four years. Good riddance
@Wayne Connor: you must have been asleep for 4 years.
@JackSimpson: Better than being blind for 4 years like you.
@JackSimpson: As per usual, when Trump is mentioned Jack turns up to defend his boyfriend. Very admirable but time to slide yourself out of him and get a dose of reality.
@JackSimpson: You’re convincing nobody. Give up.
@Wayne Connor: Obama entered the white house with a personal net worth of approximately $700,000. He was paid approximately $240,000 per year for 8 years. He left it with a net worth in excess of $40 million dollars. I assume you were moaning about that at the time also.
@TESSERACT2020: what’s your objective in lying when the truth is so easily proved as, unlike the current occupant, Obama released his taxes to public scrutiny? Between book deals, royalties, income, bonds and investments Obama was a wealthy man entering the White House and owned $1m and $5.1m in U.S. Treasury bills alone. As president he earned $400k before allowances not $240k as you claim and continued to earn book royalties and interest on his investments throughout his tenure.
Once again I’d ask what’s the purpose in lying when all it does is show there’s zero credibility in anything you say? Why do you need to even mention Obama when it’s Trump who’s being discussed?
https://fortune.com/2017/01/17/barack-obama-net-worth-white-house/
@TESSERACT2020: Goodness your lies are so easily disproved.
Not being woe is me but what the F is the point of all the restrictions we are implementing if the US do nothing. The integration between our countries is vast given the amount of Financial services and tech companies here. I don’t see our borders being closed so it’s pointless in my opinion unless the US are sanctioned for their recklessness.
@Sos: Tests at airports should take care of it.
@Justin Gillespie: no they won’t. If I’m in JFK and I’m exposed there is no way that is showing up in a test five hours later. Combined with people being quarantined for two weeks maybe. But do we have the resources to ensure compliance to that.
@Sos: Plenty of empty hotels.
@Sos: I’d be far more worried about the Brits
Of course if he goes back on the campaign trail and all his supporters start gathering in large numbers at his rallies…. hmmm
Whatever is wrong with him is no small thing
America should actually look at this as a positive . There is a much higher chance he will contract corona virus now
@sally: as will many of the sick and elderly who attend his rallies. That’s votes lost by the dead and some of their families
@sally: jeez. You seem to forget the fact that many People in Ireland have relatives in the USA, me included. My daughter works in the hospitality industry, albeit in a fairly safe part, even so, going back to work to soon will put he at terrible risk.
He doesn’t want people to get used to social distancing in the midst of a pandemic? Well no worries Donald, they won’t have to if your plan goes ahead, cos they’ll be DEAD!
Comparing this President to Mickey Mouse is an insult to the Disney character. What a buffoon to be in charge of a once great country.
The simplest way we can help reduce the risk.
The beginning of the end…………..
The Eugenicists are smiling.
The orange cabbage has total disregard for public safety all so that he can get back to shouting hoax at his ‘rallies.’ Between this and that fool in Texas saying there’s more important things than living America’s in serious trouble. Big wheels keep on turning.
i hear your a virus spreader now donald
Ban Americans from coming to Ireland.
Trump has the best, most beautiful visions.
Maybe Mass gatherings of trump supporters should be encouraged
How does a self described germaphobe act so carefree during a pandemic ? Does he have the feckin vaccine in his pocket ??
Is there a reason the journal posts an anti Trump article at around 8am every morning? Asking out of pure curiosity.
@richiecranium: yeah because trump usually gives his adress about midnight our time so by the time the author of this piece goes to bed,wakes up and writes this its morning time and it’s on your feed…..simple
@Brendan Hoey: That’s fair enough but it seems a bit strange that it’s always a petty article and never an article about any of the positive news coming out of over there. Strange. Oh well, if it’s what the people want to hear.
@richiecranium: probably something to do with the time difference and the fact that Trump gives a press conference while most of us are asleep. It’s only “anti Trump” because of the bs that comes out of his mouth at these press conferences. It’s not like he is giving the press positive stuff to report is it? But I’m always amused how people complain about the press reporting the actual words that come out of his mouth as if they’re in the wrong and he bares no responsibility.
@Brendan Hoey: He usually gives his addresses at 5pm ET which is 10pm here. By the way.
@richiecranium: No positive news could compare with the prospect of ending social distancing.
@richiecranium: What positive news, bar covid results
Can I just suggest that if you’re willing to go after Donald Trump for not having social distancing laws but you’re not willing to go after Stefan Lofven that you might just hate Donald Trump and not actually care about social distancing laws in the USA whatsoever? Just a suggestion.
Close the borders to the States now!
Trump banned Europeans from traveling to US. Europe bans US from traveling to Europe. Simples
Look up Michael Spicer’s ‘The Room Next Door’ on YouTube for Trump’s C-19 press briefings: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzsNkGUI4g&t=81s
@milton friedman: eh, you don’t even think it’s that big a deal remember?
@James Walsh: I hope you and your family stay healthy, despite you wishing disease on others.
More Trump bashing …
Media set never lets up ..
Should be a BJ article soon.
Lucky we got Lieo and Mehole….
@Gary O CONNOR:
To all the sad Trump bashers:
Stop bashing and register with Alone and do some good with all this time you have for bashing.
@School4work: Or both?
Does he mean like Melanie has?
Typical media nonsense. Implies in the headline and first few paragraphs that Trump is making dubious health decisions, but doesn’t get to the truth of the matter until half way through the article. All Trump is doing here is releasing authority back to the individual States to decide what’s best for themselves. Heard nothing in the media last week when Trump used one of his media briefings to publically blast a Governer for allowing the opening of non-essential businesses too early, because it didn’t suit the narrative. Trump is unfit for office in my view, but the media only focusing on the negative and embellishing facts to make them suit the anti-Trump agenda is simply playing into his hands and justifies some of his ‘fake news’ media’ claims.
Maybe Trump is planning to open a Trump Funeral Home Company. People will be dying to invest!!!
Go Donnie go, ya muppet!
If Trump said it was raining soup, his fanbois would go out with forks (with apologies to B Behan)
I am totally baffled how anyone in their right mind voted for him in 2016
We are going have to put 2020 on hold make for 2021, but the CultofTrump will disagree.
To be fair it is hard to grab women by their private parts from 2 meters, especially with little hands.
Well done we all need a great leader about time
This idiot should be removed from the White House.. me me me me me me ..no regard for peoples safety
@Jacqui Curtis-owens: Don’t just read the media reports. Watch that press briefing yourself. All that’s happening is authority is being handed back to the States to decide which guidelines need to be in place. It doesn’t make sense that Wyoming, with 500+ cases and 7 deaths should be lumbered with the same business and social restrictions as New York, with 300,000 cases and 23,000+ deaths. One set of guidelines doesn’t fit all. There’s a media slant of this story which is bordering on fake news.
No chance he catches the virus, that shut him up
Thumbs up me if I’m not the only one who hopes he gets it
Not sure what you are on about there lad or what attempt at deflection you are making.
Mass murderer
He will be telling us next that he can perform miracles and banish the Virus from America.
History repeats. Trump is akin to the mythical nero as Rome burned. USA rust belt allowed to vote in such a despot. Pity, but USA is in terminal decline ..too fat and arrogant
have your say