As much of the initial coronavirus pandemic subsides around the world, nations are now tasked with the difficult decision of continuing lockdown measures to contain the virus while simultaneously strategizing how to reopen their economies that have been battered by the shutdowns. Italy's infection rates have been on the decline, but the country has yet to announce how they will be moving toward life post-virus. Currently, France and Britain have determined that they will not be able to successfully lift lockdown measures until at least May due to the continued outbreak. Spain, one of the hardest hit countries in terms of confirmed cases and deaths, however is beginning to allow construction and factory workers to begin work again despite the rest of the nation still being under lockdown.
"Control measures can only be lifted if the right public-health measures are in place, including significant capacity for contact tracing," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned member countries during the agency's Monday coronavirus pandemic press conference.
As global confirmed cases reach almost 2 million in a manner of a few months, leaders around the world are being tested to see who will lead an example of a well planned coronavirus recovery strategy. Many leaders and health experts have warned the the virus's health and economic threats will not be over until a vaccine and proven treatments are found.
Global Confirmed Cases: Over 1.9 million
Total Deaths: At Least 122,000
Total Recovered: At Least 458,000
Economic Reopening
United States President Donald Trump stated during his Monday evening coronavirus press conference that growth in new coronavirus infections has stabilized and new hospitalization rates in parts of the country like New York have fallen over the weekend, signaling that national stay-at-home measures have been working.
"Over the weekend, the number of daily new infections remained flat. Hospitalizations are slowing in hot spots like New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Louisiana. This is clear evidence that out aggressive strategy to comber the virus is working," Trump stated.
In response to the slowing of infection rates, states on both coasts of the country are now creating regional alliances to coordinate the reopening of public operations after the coronavirus begins to come under control.
"We will be driven by facts, we will be driven by evidence, we will be driven by science, we will be driven by our public health advisors, we will be driven by the collaborative spirit that defines the best of us at this important moment," California Governor Gavin Newsom stated as he announced his government's partnership with the western coast state of Washington and Oregon.
On the eastern coast of the country, a working group has been formed between New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
"The optimum is a geographically coordinated plan. The virus doesn't understand governmental boundaries," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stated on Monday.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield echoed that the reopening of the country needs to be a coordinated effort between states. The lessening on public restrictions needs to come, "community by community, county by county," Redfield stated in an interview with NBC News. However, he stressed that the U.S. needs to, "substantially augment our public health capacity to do early infection, isolation and contact tracing...There's no doubt that we have to reopen correctly. It's going to be a step-by-step process. Its got to be data-driven."
President Donald Trump seemed to have another plan for the reopening of the country in mind on Monday. Trump tweeted: "For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect. It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly."
This statement has run contradictory to the previous federal guidance that it was up to the States to enact their own lockdown guidelines as their leadership deemed fit for their coronavirus response.
"Let's see what the federal government's plan is," Cuomo stated. "[Trump had] left it to states to close down, and that was a state-by-state decision, without any guidance really."
New Science
A new coronavirus saliva test has received emergency use approval from the United States Food & Drug Administration on Monday. This new test designed by Rutgers University requires a person to spit in a cup and could increase COVID-19 screenings by up to 10,000 tests per day.
The new test does not require a nose or throat swab, which Rutgers professor Andrew Brooks calls a "game-changer on three levels." The test will alleviate a global shortage of swabs and other testing equipments as well as reduce the need for personal protective equipment for sample collectors, which will reduce the risk of patient to test-giver infections.
Results from the test return from Rutgers lab within 24-48 hours.