In patchwork restart, parts of New York and other U.S. states reopen

[rooster59]

In patchwork restart, parts of New York and other U.S. states reopen

By Doina Chiacu and Nathan Layne

 

A New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer wearing a protective face mask stands at the entrance of the Sheep Meadow in Central Park during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 15, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Less populated areas of New York, Virginia and Maryland took their first steps towards lifting lockdowns on Friday, part of a patchwork approach to the coronavirus pandemic that has been shaped by political divisions across the United States.

 

Construction and manufacturing facilities in five out of 10 New York state regions were given the green light to restart operations, although New York City, the country's most populous metropolis, remained under strict limits.

 

Joe Dundon, whose construction business in Binghamton, New York, was able to start up again after shutting down in March, said he had a long backlog of kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects and several estimates lined up for Friday.

 

"We are more than excited to get back to work," he said.

 

New York state, home to both bustling Manhattan and hilly woods and farmland that stretch to the Canadian border, has been the global epicenter of the pandemic but rural areas have not been nearly as badly affected as New York City.

 

Statewide, the outbreak is ebbing. Coronavirus hospitalizations in New York declined to 6,394, a third of the level at the peak one month ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. The number of new coronavirus deaths was 132 on Thursday, the state's lowest daily total since March 25, he told a news briefing.

 

Cuomo said New York would join the nearby states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware in partially reopening beaches for the Memorial Day holiday weekend on May 23-25.

 

Pockets of Virginia and Maryland were allowing an array of businesses to reopen, in contrast to the region's biggest cities - Washington, D.C., and Baltimore - which extended their stay-at-home orders for fear of a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.

 

The patchwork approach has largely formed along demographic and political lines. Republican governors have pushed to reopen more quickly to jumpstart the crippled economy, especially in Southern states such as Georgia and Texas which were among the first to allow stores and businesses to reopen.

 

Democratic governors have been more cautious, especially about big cities, citing concerns for public health from a virus that has killed more than 85,000 Americans.

 

New York and Virginia are run by Democratic governors while Maryland's governor, Larry Hogan, is a moderate Republican in a state that is strongly Democratic.

 

PANDEMIC DIVISIONS

 

Political divisions were on display in Wisconsin this week after its Supreme Court invalidated the governor's stay-at-home order, causing confusion as local leaders responded in various ways across the Midwestern state.

 

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett decided to keep his city's stay-at-home order in place, although he told Reuters he may relax some guidelines later this month. He said he was concerned there would be outbreaks in surrounding areas that would find their way into his city of nearly 600,000 people.

 

"By definition a pandemic means that it is everywhere and the spread of the disease does not stop at city boundaries," Barrett said.

 

The eagerness to ease restrictions reflects the devastating economic toll of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

More than 36 million Americans have submitted unemployment claims since mid-March, and government data on Friday showed that retail sales plunged 16.4% last month, the biggest decline since the government started tracking the series in 1992.

 

The U.S. House of Representatives cleared the way on Friday to push ahead with a $3 trillion Democratic bill that would double the amount of aid approved by Congress to ease the human and economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

But it lacked support from Republicans, who control the U.S. Senate.

 

Having staked his Nov. 3 re-election hopes on a strong economy, Republican President Donald Trump has urged states to reopen despite warnings of health experts, including some on his White House task force, that a premature lifting of lockdowns could spark more virus outbreaks.

 

Trump said on Friday the U.S. government was working with other countries to develop a coronavirus vaccine at an accelerated pace but made clear his view that the country could move on from the epidemic without one.

 

"Vaccine or no vaccine, we're back," Trump told an event in the White House Rose Garden.

 

Trump has also voiced support for protesters, sometimes armed, who have urged states to swiftly reopen their economies.

 

In Pennsylvania, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the steps of the state capitol building in Harrisburg where they waved American and Trump 2020 flags and homemade signs, calling for the governor to fully reopen the state. Motorists including a man dressed as Santa Claus in a red convertible honked their horns in approval as they drove by.

 

Pennsylvania ranks 12th among U.S. states in COVID-19 cases per capita, according to a Reuters tally.

 

Thirty of its 67 counties are under a stay-at-home order that allows only essential business and travel to take place until June 4. Businesses are allowed to be open in the other 37 counties but must follow safety orders.

 

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Rich McKay in Atlanta and Richard Cowan, Susan Cornwell and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-16

 

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[Mama Noodle]

14 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The U.S. House of Representatives cleared the way on Friday to push ahead with a $3 trillion Democratic bill that would double the amount of aid approved by Congress to ease the human and economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

But it lacked support from Republicans, who control the U.S. Senate.

 

Translation, Partisan Bill full of completely unrelated democrat wish lists - including unfounded voting reform. Im all for specific, targeted aid, but I am not all for one side to use the pandemic as a power grab. 

 

21 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The patchwork approach has largely formed along demographic and political lines. Republican governors have pushed to reopen more quickly to jumpstart the crippled economy, especially in Southern states such as Georgia and Texas which were among the first to allow stores and businesses to reopen.

 

Those states so far are doing well, along with Florida where my family is. The Northeastern Democrat states were an abomination of early bad decisions that led to a very high percentage of their deaths being elderly people in nursing homes. 

[Mama Noodle]

26 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Political divisions were on display in Wisconsin this week after its Supreme Court invalidated the governor's stay-at-home order, causing confusion as local leaders responded in various ways across the Midwestern state.

 

Gretchen Whitmer has been one of the larger tyrants to expose themselves in this pandemic, sicking the police on citizens at their homes, in public, and at their businesses. It will be interesting to see if she gets re-elected after all the stunts she pulled. 

[Crazy Alex]

1 minute ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Gretchen Whitmer has been one of the larger tyrants to expose themselves in this pandemic, sicking the police on citizens at their homes, in public, and at their businesses. It will be interesting to see if she gets re-elected after all the stunts she pulled. 

Interesting take. We've seen people boast about the popularity of thugs like Whitmer and Cuomo. Even if true, I suspect that as time goes on, more people are going to suspect they've been bamboozled by power-hungry, incompetent thugs. They say Whitmer is on Biden's short list. Oh lord PLEASE let her be the VP pick.

[Mama Noodle]

1 minute ago, Crazy Alex said:

Interesting take. We've seen people boast about the popularity of thugs like Whitmer and Cuomo. Even if true, I suspect that as time goes on, more people are going to suspect they've been bamboozled by power-hungry, incompetent thugs. They say Whitmer is on Biden's short list. Oh lord PLEASE let her be the VP pick.

 

The mind boggles how any person can force people into financial ruin, and in some cases by brute force and at gunpoint, and think that somehow its going to propel them into larger political notoriety.

 

Then be *shocked* when citizens rally at the state capital in a show of power. 

 

Its all politics. Democrats are always all about power and control, every time. 

[Yinn]

12 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Its all politics.

Hmmmm. 

 

I think that why corona terrible in USA (90,000+ dead).

 

The virus not care about politics. 

Argue about corona politics is stupid people. Idiots.

 

Thai argue politics a lot. But corona time we forget that, work together, help together for fight the virus.

Look like we successful. Hope that. 

Argue politics will not help kill the virus. Selfish. 

 

[Mama Noodle]

2 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think that why corona terrible in USA (90,000+ dead).

 

The virus not care about politics. 

Argue about corona politics is stupid people. Idiots.

 

Thai argue politics a lot. But corona time we forget that, work together, help together for fight the virus.

Look like we successful. Hope that. 

Argue politics will not help kill the virus. Selfish. 

 

[Yinn]

4 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

 

[LomSak27]

Patchwork restart, as no federal leadership. Trump and Jared, the dynamic duo;  realized its better to throw responsibility on the states, then criticize & <deleted> on them at every opportunity.

Complete abdication of Leadership and responsibility. You can't imagine Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter or Bush I or II; sub standard POTUS's doing anything as cowardly and sinister.

 

The USA; A Third word <excrement> show, run by grifters & know nothings.

[Yinn]

17 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Patchwork restart, as no federal leadership. Trump and Jared, the dynamic duo;  realized its better to throw responsibility on the states, then criticize & <deleted> on them at every opportunity.

Complete abdication of Leadership and responsibility. You can't imagine Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter or Bush I or II; sub standard POTUS's doing anything as cowardly and sinister.

 

The USA; A Third word <excrement> show, run by grifters & know nothings.

And injection the disinfectant! 

 

Kill the virus. And kill you.

[Tug]

49 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

The mind boggles how any person can force people into financial ruin, and in some cases by brute force and at gunpoint, and think that somehow its going to propel them into larger political notoriety.

 

Then be *shocked* when citizens rally at the state capital in a show of power. 

 

Its all politics. Democrats are always all about power and control, every time. 

Oh I don’t know a bunch of armed thugs breaking quarantine spreading a deadly virus in the state capital isent a good look as for NY starting to open up strangely in spite of the horrific death tolls I have faith more so than in anything coming from the trump administration 

[meechai]

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Hmmmm. 

 

I think that why corona terrible in USA (90,000+ dead).

Yinn I think this has been pointed out to you before but here it is again

 

These numbers were updated TODAY

 

You cannot just look at a number & claim the biggest number is the worst hit place.

You need to compare per million of population.

Otherwise your just another sensationalist

 

And of course it goes without saying that if a country is barely testing they cannot be tallied at all

(nor should they throw stones as they live in glass houses)

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

Edited May 16, 2020 by meechai

[puipuitom]

11 hours ago, meechai said:

Yinn I think this has been pointed out to you before but here it is again

 

These numbers were updated TODAY

 

You cannot just look at a number & claim the biggest number is the worst hit place.

You need to compare per million of population.

Otherwise your just another sensationalist

 

And of course it goes without saying that if a country is barely testing they cannot be tallied at all

(nor should they throw stones as they live in glass houses)

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

Do not forget to mention, what the definition of a "confirmed death" is.

In Belgium for instance, they mention three figures: those, who passed away in a hospital AFTER an official corona lab test ( 4149) + all those who passed away at other places ( care homes + elsewhere) with a close to sure reality caused by corona ( = 4465 = 51,28 % of the total) see https://www.demorgen.be/voor-u-uitgelegd/coronavirus-in-cijfers-en-kaarten-het-aantal-besmettingen-doden-en-genezen-patienten~b5875c3f/ . In Netherlands only the first. Demographic figures in Netherlands give an overmortality of 80+ of 5887 in wk 12-17, while of 65-80:  2450 . see https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/70895ned.

 

Looking to the USA, with quite some people without any access to medical care, so forget any hospital, too poor to be able even to skip one day of paid work, the figure is even worse. 

Second: In Italy and Spain the covid-19 explosion was a lot earlier as in New York, even several other parts of the USA are more behind. Curious how the developments under unnamed Nobelprice virologist and bleach injection specialist The Donald will be in a couple of weeks.

You are comparing longans with coconuts and jackfruits.

[puipuitom]

13 hours ago, Yinn said:

 

What the Americans did so very wrong, that God cursed them with such a president and.. such a candidates... last time and this time.

[Cryingdick]

14 hours ago, Yinn said:

Hmmmm. 

 

I think that why corona terrible in USA (90,000+ dead).

 

The virus not care about politics. 

Argue about corona politics is stupid people. Idiots.

 

Thai argue politics a lot. But corona time we forget that, work together, help together for fight the virus.

Look like we successful. Hope that. 

Argue politics will not help kill the virus. Selfish. 

 

 

Quite clearly the type of posts that earned poster of the year. On TV though I guess it makes sense.

[nattaya09]

They opened part of my state yesterday except my part in the north as the numbers show it to be the most seriously affected. What do the numbers say for context?  Deaths attributed to C-19 are 1.5 persons per 10,000 of population in the county. 75% of the total documented cases are people under age 60 while 92% of total deaths are people over 60. Luckily, neither my wife's job or mine ever shut down so we just had to deal with the schools being closed since March 13.

[Cryingdick]

I live in a tiny sliver of land called the Northern Panhandle in WV. It's an odd geographic location. It's the furthest northern part of what is statistically considered the south. Anyway other than that fascinating nugget, it is close to go to Ohio and Pennsylvania to get many things.

 

So I end up crossing the state lines at least once a week. In the case of the PA side it is odd you don't have a mask and realize they are under severe lock down masks mandatory. It's also sort of weird when you are in a place where things on one side of the street are completely shuttered while the other side is open because of the line running through.

 

They don't stop cars between the states so basically the draconian lockdown style of PA is rendered useless. They are also losing a lot of money because everybody and their brother crosses this side as things are open, also because of high taxes in PA everything is much cheaper.

 

They did ask for in state ID in OH and WV for awhile because so many from PA were coming across the borders to buy liquor when the asshat government closed the liquor stores in PA. 

 

I am very happy not to live in Cuomo land where the states cooperate and make a region into purgatory. In many ways this side of the border is absolutely booming right now. Nobody is going to need a haircut by the time PA opens again. Which is going to hurt their state further as there will be little pent up demand.

Edited May 16, 2020 by Cryingdick

[tlock]

19 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

I live in a tiny sliver of land called the Northern Panhandle in WV. It's an odd geographic location. It's the furthest northern part of what is statistically considered the south. Anyway other than that fascinating nugget, it is close to go to Ohio and Pennsylvania to get many things.

 

So I end up crossing the state lines at least once a week. In the case of the PA side it is odd you don't have a mask and realize they are under severe lock down masks mandatory. It's also sort of weird when you are in a place where things on one side of the street are completely shuttered while the other side is open because of the line running through.

 

They don't stop cars between the states so basically the draconian lockdown style of PA is rendered useless. They are also losing a lot of money because everybody and their brother crosses this side as things are open, also because of high taxes in PA everything is much cheaper.

 

They did ask for in state ID in OH and WV for awhile because so many from PA were coming across the borders to buy liquor when the asshat government closed the liquor stores in PA. 

 

I am very happy not to live in Cuomo land where the states cooperate and make a region into purgatory. In many ways this side of the border is absolutely booming right now. Nobody is going to need a haircut by the time PA opens again. Which is going to hurt their state further as there will be little pent up demand.

Yeah it is funny that the states have such different levels of lockdown but there aren't any restrictions on interstate travel.  I think once the summer kicks off states that have completely re-opened will see a decent number of vacationers from lockdown states.

 

 

[Crazy Alex]

17 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh I don’t know a bunch of armed thugs breaking quarantine spreading a deadly virus in the state capital isent a good look as for NY starting to open up strangely in spite of the horrific death tolls I have faith more so than in anything coming from the trump administration 

Thugs are violent criminals. What violence or crimes did the protesters commit?

[landtrout]

21 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

Interesting take. We've seen people boast about the popularity of thugs like Whitmer and Cuomo. Even if true, I suspect that as time goes on, more people are going to suspect they've been bamboozled by power-hungry, incompetent thugs. They say Whitmer is on Biden's short list. Oh lord PLEASE let her be the VP pick.

 

2 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

Thugs are violent criminals. What violence or crimes did the protesters commit?

 

    Ahem.....

[Odysseus123]

21 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

The USA; A Third word <excrement> show, run by grifters & know nothings.

One need not look very far to see that the paleoconservatives have much in common with the "Know Nothing" party of the 1840's-one of its favourite planks was hatred of the Irish,black folks and immigrants in general-whereas these days it has expanded to include virtually everyone who is "agin" them.

[Yinn]

22 hours ago, meechai said:

Yinn I think this has been pointed out to you before but here it is again

 

These numbers were updated TODAY

 

You cannot just look at a number & claim the biggest number is the worst hit place.

You need to compare per million of population.

Otherwise your just another sensationalist

 

And of course it goes without saying that if a country is barely testing they cannot be tallied at all

(nor should they throw stones as they live in glass houses)

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

The death rate per million is important show how terrible.

 

thailand .08 per million. Belgium 900 x worse, US 400 x worse. Big problem. 

[Yinn]

 

7 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

They don't stop cars between the states so basically the draconian lockdown style of PA is rendered useless. 

Stupid.

Another reason US have corona so much. 

Should work together. 

[cornishcarlos]

3 minutes ago, Yinn said:

The death rate per million is important show how terrible.

 

thailand .08 per million. Belgium 900 x worse, US 400 x worse. Big problem. 

 

Not accurate though.

For sure some countries have been classifying lots of deaths as Covid, even when just suspected. Why they have done this is a big question.

Likewise, sure some countries (Thailand included) have been classifying Covid related deaths as something else. Again, they must have their motives.

 

The only thing we know for sure is numbers everywhere are skewed.

 

[Cryingdick]

6 hours ago, tlock said:

Yeah it is funny that the states have such different levels of lockdown but there aren't any restrictions on interstate travel.  I think once the summer kicks off states that have completely re-opened will see a decent number of vacationers from lockdown states.

 

 

Interstate makes it under Fed jurisdiction, they would close them if they could.

[Cryingdick]

6 minutes ago, Yinn said:

 

Stupid.

Another reason US have corona so much. 

Should work together. 

 

Can I ask you how you make your living? If you collect a check or can survive without working that's great. Other people need this thing they call a "live"lyhood in order to live. 

[Cryingdick]

3 hours ago, landtrout said:

 

 

    Ahem.....

 

I also haven't heard of any violence thus far. Do you consider people with guns by itself to by violent? 

[LomSak27]

Just now, Yinn said:

Should work together. 

No Federal Leadership. The President of the United States has basically said you're on your own. It's so preposterous, it is almost unbelievable. However if you have a big media news net to back up your bull-excrement. Amazing things can and do happen. 80,000 dead as of this weekend. 

[Cryingdick]

4 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

No Federal Leadership. The President of the United States has basically said you're on your own. It's so preposterous, it is almost unbelievable. However if you have a big media news net to back up your bull-excrement. Amazing things can and do happen. 80,000 dead as of this weekend. 

 

We want to work together that is exactly what this is all about people returning to do their living. That was more a reply to what you quoted than your actual post itself.

Edited May 17, 2020 by Cryingdick

[Yinn]

Just now, Cryingdick said:

 

Can I ask you how you make your living? If you collect a check or can survive without working that's great. Other people need this thing they call a "live"lyhood in order to live. 

You say people travel the border for buy alcohol, have haircut, have holiday. Not necessary.

 

= people will spread= people will die. Sure. 

 

My income less because covid, I really want go Phuket for buying some things. Six week already.

 

Frustrated. But I accept the rule. The rule is for good reason= stop people die.

 

If I die my income for what? 

 

No perfect answer for COVID problem. Must balance it. Buy alcohol, haircut, holiday NOT good for balance IMO.

Selfish make ir worse.