Trump Announces New Social Distancing Rules and Deadlines

America’s fight against coronavirus is still in full swing, with the peak of the crisis expected to arrive here in our nation around Easter time.  That is, of course, if we continue to adhere to our strict social distancing efforts and refrain from prematurely declaring victory.

And make no mistake about it, this will be tough, particularly as the somber news continues to roll in from hotspots like New Orleans and New York City.  We must rise to the occasion, as Americans are so very capable of doing, and we must do so in a united, cohesive fashion.

That is why President Trump is urging us all to adopt a new set of guidelines in battling COVID-19.

President Donald Trump reversed himself on Sunday, extending national social-distancing guidelines to April 30 in effort to keep the projected coronavirus death toll in the U.S. from reaching a catastrophic, worst-case scenario.

Trump’ previously said he wanted the country to reopen for business by Easter. Public health experts have warned that loosening restrictions by Easter, on April 12, would result in unnecessary death and economic damage. Trump had suggested that the coronavirus death rate would likely peak within two weeks.

“Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory has been won,” Trump said at an evening press briefing. The president claimed Sunday that Easter was just an “aspiration” and he hopes the country will “be well on our way to recovery” by June 1.

The President also laid out some expectations as to the sort of casualties we could see.

Trump said his administration was extending the guidelines to avoid a major death toll. The president pointed to modeling that forecast 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. if drastic measures weren’t taken to mitigate the outbreak. Trump said the administration is working to keep the projected death toll below 100,000.

“So if we can hold that down, as we’re saying, to 100,000, it’s a horrible number, maybe even less, but to 100,000, so we have between 100 and 200,000, we all together have done a very good job,” Trump said.

Very simply put:  It is now up to us.