Social Distancing Will Continue Through Summer!

White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx said Sunday, Social distancing must continue through the summer, even as some states began moving to ease shutdown and stay-at-home guidelines. She said that for the next several months, any gatherings or commercial activity would need to incorporate physical separation between people.

Vice President Mike Pence spurred hopes for a revival of summertime activity when he predicted last week in a radio interview that the pandemic would be “behind us” by the Memorial Day weekend, less than a month from now.

While President Trump has said he is leaving it up to governors how soon to allow businesses to reopen, he also signaled support earlier this month for protesters in a handful of states who demand a speedy end to restrictions.

Per Los Angeles Times, most polls indicate that a majority of Americans want to proceed more cautiously to lift restrictions on activity. But governors whose states are easing restrictions said they felt confident in their decision-making.

Despite the U.S. jobless rate hitting Depression-era levels last week, with unemployment claims topping 26 million, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said Sunday he expected a strong rebound by the U.S. economy over the summer.

“I think as we begin to reopen the economy in May and June you’re going to see the economy really bounce back in July, August, September,” Mnuchin said on Fox.

---