One in four Americans face stay-at-home orders as coronavirus spreads

[rooster59]

One in four Americans face stay-at-home orders as coronavirus spreads

By Gabriella Borter and David Morgan

 

A woman wears a face mask while people enjoy the day at Central Park as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in New York, U.S., March 21, 2020. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

 

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly 1 in 4 Americans were under orders to close up shop and stay at home on Saturday, as lawmakers in Washington neared a deal that could pump a record $1 trillion into the economy to limit the economic damage from the coronavirus.

 

New Jersey's governor followed four other states - California, New York, Illinois and Connecticut - that have imposed unprecedented restrictions to slow the spread of infections, which have risen exponentially.

 

As of midday Saturday, 289 deaths and nearly 23,000 cases had been reported.

 

Life will not return to normal any time soon, officials warned.

 

"I don't believe it's going to be a matter of weeks. I believe it is going to be a matter of months," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference on Saturday.

 

Federal authorities briefly stopped flights arriving at New York City-area airports after a trainee at an air traffic control centre tested positive.

 

Meanwhile, the global pandemic closed in on the highest levels of power in the nation's capital.

 

Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have tested positive, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said he and his wife would be tested after an unidentified aide was diagnosed with the virus. Pence staffers said the aide had mild symptoms and had not had close contact with Pence or President Donald Trump.

 

Trump tested negative for the virus, his doctor said last week, after dining with a Brazilian delegation that included at least one member who later tested positive.

 

In Congress, Republican and Democratic leaders said they were closing in on a stimulus bill that would pump $1.4 trillion into the economy, adding to the hundreds of billions of dollars in fiscal and monetary stimulus that has already been deployed to prop up the world's largest economy.

 

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled a vote for Monday.

 

Hard-hit airlines pressed for $29 billion in cash, promising in return not to furlough employees before September. But lawmakers said they were inclined to offer loans instead. "I don't sense support for it here or with the administration," said Senator John Thune, the No. 2 Republican.

 

State and local officials, meanwhile, said they did not have enough tests to diagnose the disease, protective gear to slow its transmission, and medical equipment to treat those who have contracted it.

 

"We've gotten no help from the federal government, or limited help," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said at a news briefing.

 

In New York, Cuomo said the state had identified 6,000 ventilators to help sick patients keep breathing, but needed 30,000 more. He said the state is sending 1 million N95 respirator masks to New York City - short of the 3 million city officials are seeking.

 

"We are literally scouring the globe for medical supplies," Cuomo said.

 

At the White House, officials said they were getting more tests and equipment to where they were needed, but declined to say whether they had delivered 1.4 million tests this week, as promised.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a test that can deliver a result in 45 minutes, rather than days, according to Cepheid, its maker.

 

In New York City, where more than 6,000 cases have been diagnosed, about a dozen people waited for a test in the parking lot of the Brooklyn Hospital Center.

 

"That's insane," city council member Mark Levine said in a phone interview. "If they're well enough to stand in a line, they should be home resting, they don't need a test, and they need to get out of the way."

 

The number of confirmed cases is expected to skyrocket as testing becomes more widely available, and health officials are scrambling to expand hospital capacity. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert, urged Americans to postpone non-essential surgeries to keep beds available.

 

Click https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA/0100B5K8423/index.html for a graphic on U.S. cases.

 

New Jersey became the latest state on Saturday to adopt a statewide directive requiring residents to remain indoors except for trips to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other "essential businesses."

 

Stay-at-home orders now apply to 84 million people in states that account for a third of the nation's economy. Other states encouraged residents to reduce activity but did not put restrictions in place. Missouri went in a different direction, allowing child-care providers to take on more children.

 

The state directives were for the most part issued without strict enforcement mechanisms to back them up.

 

Cuomo said New York would fine and close businesses that defy the order. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said police would "admonish" people to go home.

 

In Ridgefield, Connecticut, where six new cases were reported on Saturday, town official Rudy Marconi said he would dispatch the police to break up a teenagers' basketball game.

 

"We have no other tools in our toolbox. We have to rely on the social distancing," he said.

 

(Additional reporting by Caroline Spiezio, Barbara Goldberg and Jonathan Allen in New York and Jan Wolfe, Chris Prentice and Steve Holland in Washington, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Kanisha Singh in Bengaluru; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-22

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[Tug]

We aren’t under lock down yet we’re I and my wife are we have a 12 acres so we are in good shape when I do go to town that mask is on and we stay as far away as possible from folks I’m sure glad the wife and I were ahead of the curve on this one good luck and health to all

[gk10002000]

I am currently working in New Jersey on an engineering contract with a big aerospace firm working on Department of Defense things.  These so called stay at home orders are so vague nobody knows what they really mean.  The company I work at is NOT closing.  Do the orders mean I am not supposed to drive the 4 miles from my hotel and go to work comes Monday?  The orders apparently still allow people to go shopping for groceries, go to pick up take out food, or go to the bank, go walk outside, etc.  So many small businesses seemed to have closed so millions of blue collar workers are in a world of hurt.

 

" People are limited to traveling for only essential needs, such groceries, food, or medicine, if they are have to get to a job at a business that is still open, to visit family and close friends, or to seek medical attention. You can also go outside for walks or exercise. " according to the latest NJ news feed.

 

  According to the news there have been 287 deaths in the USA attributed to the COVID.  And quietly statistics have been presented that show the other "flu" has killed many more times that and typically kills over 23,000 each year. 

Edited March 22, 2020 by gk10002000

[uesnyc]

In Manhattan, it's not a "lockdown".. I go out for walks when feeling stir-crazy, I can still pick up food easily, liquor stores still open, nothing difficult to obtain.. I'm for the most part staying in the apartment.. And when I do go for a walk, it's funny as <deleted> how we distance ourselves from someone else doing the same.. Just a nod, a grin, and a empathetic gesture.

[gk10002000]

Over the years, I have declined to shake stranger's hands.  Nothing against the old custom of a firm handshake, and I am not like the TV series character Monk, but I have no need for that physical contact.  Frankly the Thai Wai, or Chinese or Japanese custom of bowing is more appealing to me.  I hope it catches on.

[Tug]

13 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

I am currently working in New Jersey on an engineering contract with a big aerospace firm working on Department of Defense things.  These so called stay at home orders are so vague nobody knows what they really mean.  The company I work at is NOT closing.  Do the orders mean I am not supposed to drive the 4 miles from my hotel and go to work comes Monday?  The orders apparently still allow people to go shopping for groceries, go to pick up take out food, or go to the bank, go walk outside, etc.  So many small businesses seemed to have closed so millions of blue collar workers are in a world of hurt.

 

" People are limited to traveling for only essential needs, such groceries, food, or medicine, if they are have to get to a job at a business that is still open, to visit family and close friends, or to seek medical attention. You can also go outside for walks or exercise. " according to the latest NJ news feed.

 

  According to the news there have been 287 deaths in the USA attributed to the COVID.  And quietly statistics have been presented that show the other "flu" has killed many more times that and typically kills over 23,000 each year. 

Well Italy lost 800 yesterday in one day that’s one country how many would die without drastic measures?please everyone show due diligence safe practices good health and long life

[PhonThong]

12 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Over the years, I have declined to shake stranger's hands.  Nothing against the old custom of a firm handshake, and I am not like the TV series character Monk, but I have no need for that physical contact.  Frankly the Thai Wai, or Chinese or Japanese custom of bowing is more appealing to me.  I hope it catches on.

I agree. I think the handshake should be a thing of the past. But, as far as a bow or a wai is concerned. It would have to be different. Both have certain degrees that acknowledge levels of superiority. That, will never catch on! As an American I would never bow or wai in such a way to anyone in the U.S. that says, " you are more superior than me".

[bristolboy]

1 minute ago, PhonThong said:

I agree. I think the handshake should be a thing of the past. But, as far as a bow or a wai is concerned. It would have to be different. Both have certain degrees that acknowledge levels of superiority. That, will never catch on! As an American I would never bow or wai in such a way to anyone in the U.S. that says, " you are more superior than me".

If only one party bows that might make sense.

[gk10002000]

FYI:  I live in Florida but am working in New Jersey, just over the water west of New York city.  So many stores shut down it is almost eerie as I drive the 4 miles through the little towns of Lyndhurst, Nutley, Clifton and Rutherford (yes I am in the meadowlands right next to Giant's stadium.  I work for a large Department of Defense aerospace contractor.  Most DOD industries are deemed essential and are directed to stay open as part of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).  There are all sorts of high level DOD memos out there and today this company issued "travel letters" for lack of a better word, that supposedly will help us with the local cops if they stop us and ask why we are driving and not locked down in our homes (Hotel for me).  Of course I doubt the local cops will understand such a letter or the details of what essential worker(s) or industries are.  But I am sure with a few radio and phone calls they will sort it out.   Millions of Americans that are involved in Defense Department work probably will be still working and of course the Mililtary folks that are stationed at all the USA bases and facilities mostly will be also.  

 

  But man, all the shops along the streets closed.  Very little traffic on Route 3 that goes East-West into and out of New York City.  The hotel stopped serving the granola bars and packaged oatmeal today that was always just out on a shelf.  They are cheating.  It is not like this was a cafeteria serving food.  The darn hotel is less than 1/4 full by my estimates but they are taking advantage of the situation and not even putting out granola bars!

[uesnyc]

On 3/23/2020 at 9:18 AM, gk10002000 said:

If you're interested, take a hop over to the good side of the GWB and I'll show you some good Thai takeout.. Chang, Singah, and Mekhong allowed to takeout too.

 

  But man, all the shops along the streets closed.  Very little traffic on Route 3 that goes East-West into and out of New York City.  The hotel stopped serving the granola bars and packaged oatmeal today that was always just out on a shelf.  They are cheating.  It is not like this was a cafeteria serving food.  The darn hotel is less than 1/4 full by my estimates but they are taking advantage of the situation and not even putting out granola bars!

 

[gk10002000]

 

thanks nyc.  I been up here since January 13.  Been meaning to get over to Elmhurst and Queens to the Thai Temple over there.  Elmhurst as you no doubt know made the news recently with the surge in cases there.