Trump says reopen by Easter, Corporate America says not so fast

By Diane Bartz

 

FILE PHOTO: A sign on the floor asks customers to maintain social distancing while on line at a bank to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Falls Church, Virginia, U.S., March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump wants America to get back to business by Easter, suggesting some efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus outbreak will no longer be needed by then, but Corporate America is taking its lead from health professionals.

 

The president, who is concerned about the economic repercussions of an extended shutdown of nonessential business, said in a television interview on Tuesday that he wanted to see businesses returning to normal by Easter, or April 12.

 

"I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter," he said on Fox News Channel. [nL1N2BH18B]

 

But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and National Restaurant Association pointed to less optimistic recommendations by public health officials. Many of these have urged that Americans stay in their homes as much as possible for weeks to prevent the virus' spread.

 

"It’s a tough one. I think it would be easier to accept that as something that I would feel comfortable doing if I thought it weren't going to cost lives," said Melanie Krautstrunk, who owns a brew pub in Tennessee, about re-opening by Easter.

 

A total of 53,541 Americans have tested positive for the virus, and 730 have died. State governors, primarily in the northeast and west coast, have ordered schools and non-essential businesses closed to prevent the disease's spread.

 

As a result, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits surged by the most since 2012 to a 2-1/2-year high, as companies in the service sectors laid off workers, the Labor Department said last Thursday. [nL1N2BC0VF]

 

Even so, the powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it was following the advice of medical professionals.

 

"We urge all businesses and the public to listen to the public health officials when it comes to social distancing. We believe we should return to work as soon as we safely and responsibly can," said Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's chief policy officer, in an email statement.

 

Seven in 10 Americans now consider the coronavirus pandemic to be "a serious threat to me and my family," according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll that shows how wide, bipartisan segments of the country feel their lives have been turned upside down by the health crisis. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.

 

The National Retail Federation's David French described the situation as "highly fluid" and of undetermined length. They are encouraging retailers to follow the CDC's and other health experts' guidance.

 

"The challenge really is going to be whether restaurants can even open at this point if we don’t have a public that wants to go out," said the group's Sean Kennedy.

 

Krautstrunk, of Chattanooga, expected 2020 to be the year the 5-year-old brewery she founded with her husband would become profitable.

 

Hutton & Smith Brewing Co drew orders from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. But coronavirus struck a "death blow" to the company,

 

Krautstrunk said, forcing her to shutter the taproom, lay off five employees and cut pay for the remaining 17, as orders cratered.

 

When asked whether she would reopen if Trump issues guidance suggesting they open by Easter, Krautstrunk said the decision would not be easy.

 

"Personally, I’m more concerned about the economy than my health at this point. But I’m not at risk for dying. I’m definitely concerned about my mother. And I don’t want to just recklessly try and open a business and see something terrible happen to her if this disease gets out of control," she said.

 

(Reporting by Diane Bartz, Alexandra Alper, David Lawder and Hilary Russ; editing by Diane Craft)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-26

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Trump is more concerned about his re election than peoples lives which is typical of the psychopath that he is , 0 empathy for anyone but himself .

Better to take advice from real health experts,than you Donald,

expect he will be getting worried if things don't turn around soon

it will create problems for his reelection, which is much more

important to him than the health of the American public.

regards Worgeordie

I'm being reminded of King Canute, without the smarts.

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

Personally, I’m more concerned about the economy than my health at this point.

What a <peanut >,

health is everything.

Edited March 26, 20206 yr by leeneeds
swearword used,

The Pope is thinking of postponing  Easter by end of May.  

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

The president, who is concerned about the economic repercussions of an extended shutdown of nonessential business,

because it will harm his re-election campaign and make him look bad.

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

Corporate America is taking its lead from health professionals.

Can not believe I am saying this, but bravo Corporate America.

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Personally, I’m more concerned about the economy than my health at this point. But I’m not at risk for dying. I’m definitely concerned about my mother. And I don’t want to just recklessly try and open a business and see something terrible happen to her if this disease gets out of control," she said.

 

A voice of sanity, logic and empathy.

 

Hope you ride out the storm and your business is able to recover.

Trump on twitter said he wants the shutdown ended at easter. When asked what he based this on he accused the reporter of fake news.

American corporations are just saying that because they hate Trump! They'd rather go broke than say a good word about POTUS. Haters gonna hate!!!

50 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

American corporations are just saying that because they hate Trump! They'd rather go broke than say a good word about POTUS. Haters gonna hate!!!

 

No, they're just saying that because if by some miracle they could be back to work by Easter, that precludes another trip back to the trough.

Trump is right.

 

Economic suicide is not the answer. 

 

The cure can't be worse than the disease.

 

Let's hope corporate america grows a pair and does what the president suggests.

 

The sooner the US can proceed to herd immunity the less people will die.

 

Plenty of medical professionals agree with that Trump is suggesting.

Trust the Donald all be ok.

Same here trust the PM.

Isolate your self, we see who knows in a few months.

Enjoy the beers, eats and movies.

 

It might be over by then - get everyone infected now, the weak die, the strong survive and get immune (hope they do), and it's over. Not sure anyone would forgive him millions of dead though.

 

But I'm sure he'd find a way to twist that around and call them commies or whatever and that MAGA is now better off without them...

4 hours ago, Logosone said:

Trump is right.

 

Economic suicide is not the answer. 

 

The cure can't be worse than the disease.

 

Let's hope corporate america grows a pair and does what the president suggests.

 

The sooner the US can proceed to herd immunity the less people will die.

 

Plenty of medical professionals agree with that Trump is suggesting.

Every statement above is a complete lie and only shows the 'intelligence' of republicans and their 'genius' leader... america is absolutely NOT great, quite the opposite! Nothing but dis-respect!

As far as I can recall Trump hasn't actually made a decision on anything during the crisis. He has made a few suggestions, often contradicting other suggestions. The only thing he did do was give himself more powers.

6 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'm being reminded of King Canute, without the smarts.

Mmm... as, in he knows the stories, but fails to comprehend the message?

19 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

As far as I can recall Trump hasn't actually made a decision on anything during the crisis. He has made a few suggestions, often contradicting other suggestions. The only thing he did do was give himself more powers.

And yet, according to gallop, his approval is at an all time high. A logical conclusion to this wee conundrum is that the electorate is really happy that he is recusing himself from decision making. ????

GOOD ON "Corporate America" to defy Trump but ultimately each state Governor down to city managers will decide about relaxing any shutdown. 

Https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/25/trump-needs-governors-reopen-economy-even-republican-ones-arent-onboard

 

5 hours ago, bristolboy said:

American corporations are just saying that because they hate Trump! They'd rather go broke than say a good word about POTUS. Haters gonna hate!!!

You are kidding right.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and National Restaurant Association pointed to less optimistic recommendations by public health officials. Many of these have urged that Americans stay in their homes as much as possible for weeks to prevent the virus' spread.

Trump kicked the adults out of the room, so they cant guide policy, but thank god he can’t shut them down entirely. 

Posts with links to a pseudo-science conspiracy site have been removed.

 

A post using content from an unapproved YouTube source has been removed:

 

18) Social Media content is not to be used as source material unless it is from a recognized or approved news media source, the source of any such material (Twitter, Facebook etc.) should always be shown.

Right now let's not forget the US is in and has been in a state of emergency and war for awhile now. The president has special powerful tools and abilities right now.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing his success with this virus (man made) despite his criticism which is due, sure. On another note, I want to see if he uses the Pentagon as a judicial court and continue the prosecution of several high level folks in the near future. I'd like to note that human trafficking prosecutions have skyrocketed under the Trump administration. That is good.

If any proof was still needed that The Donald has lost his marbles, it's right here for all to see!

 

His poll numbers are as high as ever.

Many people love him.

I predict he will win big.

Four more years get use to it.

Michael T. Osterholm is an American infectious disease epidemiologist, regents professor, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota

 

"Consider the effect of shutting down offices, schools, transportation systems, restaurants, hotels, stores, theaters, concert halls, sporting events and other venues indefinitely and leaving all of their workers unemployed and on the public dole. The likely result would be not just a depression but a complete economic breakdown, with countless permanently lost jobs, long before a vaccine is ready or natural immunity takes hold. We can’t have everyone stay home and still produce and distribute the basics needed to sustain life and fight the disease."

 

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/21/facing-covid-19-reality-national-lockdown-is-no-cure/

Edited March 27, 20206 yr by metisdead
14) You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Please only post a link, the headline and the first three sentences.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Even so, the powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it was following the advice of medical professionals.

 

"We urge all businesses and the public to listen to the public health officials when it comes to social distancing. We believe we should return to work as soon as we safely and responsibly can," said Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's chief policy officer, in an email statement.

 

Ouch!!!  That's a sharp stick in the eye to Trump.... deservedly so...

 

It would be great if the Chamber could urge Americans to listen to their president. But sadly, even the Chamber has realized with Trump's mania that's no longer possible in good conscience.

 

 

7 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'm being reminded of King Canute, without the smarts.

The original, old English spelling of this guy was <deleted> - he was a Dane, a Viking sponsored, self-proclaimed king.

If you re-arrange the letters - I can see why Trump would remind you of this Danish 'King"

While so many are understandably scared witless now they are witnessing what Trump casually tried to  brush off as a  "won't happen" and now presenting  the idea of  "never mind" is  not in in his best interests of credibility.

It strikes me as suggesting that those at highest risk be mass suicidal martyrs for the sake of the capitalist  ideology .

Is that not very similar to the Islamic  suicide bombers we have all been taught to believe are crazed and deluded  in their extremist  ideology?

Let  Trump volunteer his  life as an example if  he honestly  believes it  will save "his" country!