Trump drops idea of New York lockdown as U.S. death count crosses 2,000

By Andy Sullivan

 

An empty street is seen near Wall street during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he would issue a travel warning for the hard-hit New York area to limit the spread of the coronavirus, backing off from an earlier suggestion that he might try to cut off the region entirely.

 

"A quarantine will not be necessary," he said on Twitter.

 

Trump's announcement came as the U.S. death count crossed 2,100, more than double the level from two days ago. The United States has now recorded more than 122,000 cases of the respiratory virus, the most of any country in the world.

 

Since the virus first appeared in the United States in late January, Trump has vacillated between playing down the risks of infection and urging Americans to take steps to slow its spread.

 

Trump said on Saturday afternoon that he might impose a ban on travel in and out of New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, the U.S. epicenter of the disease, to protect other states that have yet to bear the brunt. He offered few specifics.

 

Critics promptly called the idea unworkable, saying it would cause chaos in a region that serves as the economic engine of the eastern United States, accounting for 10 percent of the population and 12 percent of GDP.

 

"If you started walling off areas all across the country it would be totally bizarre, counter-productive, anti-American," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on CNN.

 

Hours later, Trump dropped the idea, saying he would instead ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a "strong Travel Advisory" that would be administered by the three states' governors.

 

The CDC later warned the states' residents against non-essential domestic travel for 14 days. It said the warning did not apply to employees of "critical infrastructure industries" including trucking, public health and financial services.

 

It was the latest reversal for Trump, who has been reluctant to order U.S. companies to produce much-needed medical supplies, despite the pleas of governors and hospital workers.

 

Tests to track the disease's progress also remain in short supply, despite repeated White House promises that they would be widely available.

 

On Saturday, Trump appeared to soften his previous comments calling for the U.S. economy to be reopened by mid-April. "We'll see what happens," he said.

 

Though Trump has apparently opted not to impose checkpoints on highways and airports leading out of New York, some states have imposed limits of their own.

 

New Yorkers arriving in Florida and Rhode Island face orders to self-isolate if they intend to stay, and the governors of Pennsylvania and West Virginia have asked visiting New Yorkers to voluntarily self-quarantine.

 

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu on Saturday asked all visitors to his state who don't come for work reasons to voluntarily self-quarantine.

 

New coronavirus cases in China leveled off after the government imposed a strict lockdown of Wuhan, the epicenter of the disease.

 

The body count continues to climb in Italy, where authorities have blocked travel across the country and prevented people from leaving their houses for all but essential reasons.

 

Any travel restrictions, voluntary or not, might be too late.

 

The number of coronavirus patients in California hospitals increased by more than one-third overnight, Governor Gavin Newsom said.

 

Officials in Louisiana, where Mardi Gras celebrations late last month in New Orleans fueled an outbreak, reported 17 additional deaths and 569 new cases on Saturday.

 

The disease has proven most fatal among the elderly, but Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said on Saturday that an infant had died in his state.

 

American healthcare workers are appealing for more protective gear and equipment as they face a surge of patients.

 

Doctors are also especially concerned about a shortage of ventilators, breathing machines needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the pneumonia-like respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus.

 

Hospitals have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, oxygen tanks and trained staff.

 

On Saturday, nurses protested outside the Jacobi Medical Center in New York, saying supervisors asked them to reuse their masks, putting their own health at risk.

 

One medical trainee at New York Presbyterian Hospital said they were given just one mask.

 

"It's not the people who are making these decisions that go into the patients' rooms," said the trainee, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 

(Additional reporting by Brendan Pierson, Maria Caspani, Jonathan Stempel and Gabriella Borter in New York, Joel Schectman, Andy Sullivan, Raphael Satter and Michelle Price in Washington, and Lisa Shumaker in Chicago; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-29

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Without commenting on the basic political spin as is so typical of Reuters, I dont necessarily know that Trump could lawfully order those restrictions. Its the job of the Governors. One of whom (Rhode Island) is already taking heat.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/us/rhode-island-tracking-down-new-yorkers/index.html

 

 

He got an earful from Cuomo and he backed off after his typical free wheeling announcement. Even his call on travel imposition restrictions has already been implemented. He is always reacting and behind the curve all the time.  

The democrats that run the state and the cities of New York are waiting for what? They control in times of a state of emergency.  So they are setting still until all hell breaks loose  and can blame Trump.  

The governors are managing their states where federal leadership is missing and sadly has sank to low level bickering. 

1 hour ago, BTB1977 said:

The democrats that run the state and the cities of New York are waiting for what? They control in times of a state of emergency.  So they are setting still until all hell breaks loose  and can blame Trump.  

Huh?

 

Why do you think they are sitting still.

 

Now I think flouting new ideas is good, can lead to new ways of thinking and actions. But come with those ideas in a closed setting in stead of venting them on twitter.

Edited March 29, 20206 yr by stevenl

2 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

The democrats that run the state and the cities of New York are waiting for what? They control in times of a state of emergency.  So they are setting still until all hell breaks loose  and can blame Trump.  

if Trump could turn water to wine the democrats would accuse him of pollution.
which reminds me, how are your 401(k) in the time of coronavirus?

 

Edited March 29, 20206 yr by wombat

This situation, like Hurricane Katrina in 2005, shows that the federal system is a complete failure when it comes to dealing with emergencies.  Every politician regardless of party affiliation wants to look like "the savior" and paint their opponent in a bad light while regular people suffer.  Why do I even pay taxes for this s*it

Off topic posts and replies regarding approval rating polls have been removed.

 

Yesterday I read a few quotes from Trump and a few quotes from the NY guy. It seems Trump didn't even mention his idea when he talked to Cuomo on the same day.

What does that tell us?

Was Trump really considering a lockdown?

Or did he say that only to <deleted> off New Yorkers and many others?

It seems Trump's happiness is closely related of how many people he upsets anytime.

And Americans voted for that guy. And many still support him. Amazing!

New York Gov. Cuomo says Trump has no authority to impose quarantine: ‘It would be illegal’

 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday he does not believe President Donald Trump has the authority to impose a quarantine on New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut, after the president floated the idea as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus out of the hot-spot region. 

 

Cuomo, in an interview with CNN, said that preventing people from moving in and out of the tri-state would amount to a federally imposed lockdown, which he believes is illegal. 

 

“A lockdown is what they did in Wuhan, China,” Cuomo said. 

 

Read more here:  https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/28/ny-gov-cuomo-says-trump-has-no-authority-to-impose-quarantine.html

That guy is itching to be like Erdogan or Xi.

16 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

That guy is itching to be like Erdogan or Xi.

No, he wants to be the rocket man!

 

4 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Without commenting on the basic political spin as is so typical of Reuters, I dont necessarily know that Trump could lawfully order those restrictions. Its the job of the Governors. One of whom (Rhode Island) is already taking heat.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/us/rhode-island-tracking-down-new-yorkers/index.html

 

 

The point is how big an incompetent do you have to be to mouth off about steps he might take but isn't legally allowed to? Because in what Trump calls a war, distractions are a good thing?

the feds have the power to quarantine the states.  commerce clause regulates interstate commerce, which has been used repeatedly to pass laws that ordinary people wouldn't think should come under federal regulations.

 

power is granted to congress, but aside from some political grandstanding, i wouldn't expect much pushback.  is suspect congress would allow trump to do this with an executive order using the emergency decree, and let him take the heat in the press.  as with the war powers act, they'll let the executive branch usurp their powers.

 

this wouldn't be a wuhan-style lockdown.  it would be stopping transit at state borders, leaving internal quarantine up to the local authorities.

Surely a quarantine would slow down the spread of the virus!! In Australia 5 of 7 states have closed their borders. Trump stated it would not affect truckers so all required supplies would still flow in. It would be good move but it came from Trump so it can't be a good idea even if it saves lives. Typical Democrat idiocy, oppose Trump at all costs!! Cuomo noted that a tri-state quarantine would dramatically affect the national economy, telling Cabrera, "I think it would paralyze the economy." Funny when trump talks about reopening the economy he's accused of putting money before lives but not Gov Coumo!!! 5555555!!! Typical Democrat hipocracy!! I see Coumo is even considering to sue Rhode island because it has banned NY plated cars. What an idiot, doesn't look like he wants to stop the virus spreading. The polls show Americans aren't being fooled by MSM BS about Trump's handling of the virus.

I am not a great lover of the BBC but their veiled comments about this Trump 

are spot on (or as close to the truth as they are able.)

Incidently he can go to a packed Church to celebrate Easter but I will take a rain check

All he thinks about is money not "lets fix this".

Have to feel for American citizens...whilst over 50% approve of him, he remains a nutcase to the rest of the world!

1 minute ago, ChrisY1 said:

Have to feel for American citizens...whilst over 50% approve of him, he remains a nutcase to the rest of the world!

You should see what else we have.

12 minutes ago, rabas said:

You should see what else we have.

I did.  SlowJoe attempted a virus update from his home in Maryland today.  It didn't go so well.  Poor Joe needs to hang it up.  The media cherry-picked his best moments, though.

25 minutes ago, rabas said:

You should see what else we have.

Im sure there are far more qualified people around then Trump. I mean the man is totally unsuitable for the job. I wonder why so many Americans like him must have something to do with the fact its a two party system and they hate voting for the other side. In other words they had to vote for him otherwise their side would lose. Can't imagine people really supporting him or thinking he is a good president, more like if I don't vote for him the other side might win. 

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Im sure there are far more qualified people around then Trump. I mean the man is totally unsuitable for the job. I wonder why so many Americans like him must have something to do with the fact its a two party system and they hate voting for the other side. In other words they had to vote for him otherwise their side would lose. Can't imagine people really supporting him or thinking he is a good president, more like if I don't vote for him the other side might win. 

It's a two party system where both sides are racing to the bottom.

You could predict Biden would be the Democratic choice.

 

Would 'self-isolate' for 14 days work in the US?

9 minutes ago, rabas said:

It's a two party system where both sides are racing to the bottom.

You could predict Biden would be the Democratic choice.

 

Sorry, I don't know the US candidates too well just know that Trump is the most incompetent president of them all. I would almost think US was Thailand where incompetence rules. Just so strange that someone can be that bad and he might still be re elected. 

 

I mean Obama and Clinton (though he made an ass of himself with the lewinski affair) at least did not make that much mistakes and public failures and turnarounds ect. Not sure how good the current democratic president candidates are. Can only comment on what I have seen so far.

 

Just hard to imagine there are worse candidates. The guy is a total narcissist and incompetent. 

Edited March 29, 20206 yr by robblok

55 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Have to feel for American citizens...whilst over 50% approve of him, he remains a nutcase to the rest of the world!

He's never sniffed 50% approval rating in America pre or post election. He's a low to mid 40s approval pretty much everyplace the whole way through through after winning the election with only 46% of the vote. 

Edited March 29, 20206 yr by jcsmith

39 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

I did.  SlowJoe attempted a virus update from his home in Maryland today.  It didn't go so well.  Poor Joe needs to hang it up.  The media cherry-picked his best moments, though.

I didn't see it and I don't really care.

But you have a point there. It should be extremely easy to find any person in the USA who is better qualified than Trump.

But the DEMs make a drama out of it...

Let's not forget that many Americans would not have voted for Trump if they would have had anything better than Hillary...

11 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

He's never sniffed 50% approval rating in America pre or post election. He's a low to mid 40s approval pretty much everyplace the whole way through through after winning the election with only 46% of the vote. 

Even if only 10% of Americans would support him that would be way too much.

Even people with a 2 digit IQ should be able to understand what a useless moron he is.

49 minutes ago, robblok said:

Im sure there are far more qualified people around then Trump. I mean the man is totally unsuitable for the job. I wonder why so many Americans like him must have something to do with the fact its a two party system and they hate voting for the other side. In other words they had to vote for him otherwise their side would lose. Can't imagine people really supporting him or thinking he is a good president, more like if I don't vote for him the other side might win. 

Just a thought - trump is anti government - remember he is / was a disciple of Brennan. Many Americans appear to subscribe to the same line of thinking - underlined by trump's heavy investment in Deep State conspiracy nonsense as demonstrated by his retweeting of alt right memes

Edited March 29, 20206 yr by simple1

2 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

the feds have the power to quarantine the states.  commerce clause regulates interstate commerce, which has been used repeatedly to pass laws that ordinary people wouldn't think should come under federal regulations.

 

power is granted to congress, but aside from some political grandstanding, i wouldn't expect much pushback.  is suspect congress would allow trump to do this with an executive order using the emergency decree, and let him take the heat in the press.  as with the war powers act, they'll let the executive branch usurp their powers.

 

this wouldn't be a wuhan-style lockdown.  it would be stopping transit at state borders, leaving internal quarantine up to the local authorities.

I suspect your very much WRONG! Right now trump backed down so it is meaningless what you suspect anyways.

2 hours ago, natway09 said:

I am not a great lover of the BBC but their veiled comments about this Trump 

are spot on (or as close to the truth as they are able.)

Incidently he can go to a packed Church to celebrate Easter but I will take a rain check

All he thinks about is money not "lets fix this".

trumps plan to pack the church to celebrate is a real fix for democrats. Not sure how it helps the economy but it can help the virus spread