Donald Trump has announced he wants the U.S. economy “reopened” by the Easter holiday on April 12.
That’s much sooner than medical experts have previously indicated would be prudent.
From the New York Times:
Even as nations from Britain to India declare nationwide economic lockdowns, President Trump said he “would love to have the country opened up, and just raring to go, by Easter,” less than three weeks away, a goal that top health professionals have called far too quick.
“I think it’s possible, why not?” he said with a shrug.
Participating in a town hall hosted by Fox News on Tuesday, he expressed outrage about having to “close the country” to curb the spread of the coronavirus and indicated that his guidelines on business shutdowns and social distancing would soon be lifted.
“I gave it two weeks,” he said, adding, “We can socially distance ourselves and go to work.”
Trump later amended his remarks saying, “This is a medical crisis, not a financial crisis,” and added his decisions will be based on health considerations and hard facts.
Trump on why he picked Easter as the day he wants to end strict social distancing and reopen American businesses: “Easter is a very special day for me … Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.” pic.twitter.com/6cXEtW8LmR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2020
Trump repeats his earlier wish to abandon stringent public-health measures to combat the coronavirus and re-open the economy by Easter pic.twitter.com/ysrr2FDGEZ
— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) March 24, 2020
“Let’s get this thing wrapped up by Easter.” —Pontius Pilate
— William Shakespeare (@Shakespeare) March 24, 2020
I too want the country open by Easter. And when I was a kid I wanted to fly. Gravity was educational; epidemiology should be educational too. https://t.co/tBFwMWu9ck
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) March 24, 2020
Trump said there were only 15 cases in America and “soon” it would be down to zero.
Less than a month later, there are nearly 50,000 cases in America (that we know of) and 600 deaths.
But we’re going to open everything back up by Easter — in 19 days?pic.twitter.com/KCUIwVeyRh
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 24, 2020