The United States remains glued to its hands-off approach to the coronavirus pandemic in its public facing polices, but behind the scenes documents are pointing towards a more bullish containment strategy similar to other nations being discussed by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In a report published by the Center for Public Integrity on Thursday, an unreleased report from the Task Force dated for Tuesday suggested that at least 18 states with high infection rates should enact stricter public health measures like mask mandates and increased testing. However, the White House maintains that it will not force any guidance issued to let state and local governments decide what is best for their residents.
Governors of Arkansas and Colorado on Thursday issued statewide mask requirements in public settings, joining the now 28 states and the District of Columbia. Companies like Target
But not all governors as keen to issue mask orders, even in states that could only benefit from them. Georgia Governor Brain Kemp signed an executive order late Wednesday that has banned mayors from enacting masks requirements on residents, even as the state is reporting a sharp rise in new infections.
Meanwhile, the lagging death rates in some states are beginning to uptick again, ushering an uncertain future. Florida, the new epicenter of the outbreak, reported a record 156 deaths on Thursday and almost 14,000 new infections as hospitalizations continue to rise. States like Arizona and Texas began ordering refrigerated trailers to store bodies as their morgues overflow, an eery repeat of New York back in April when the state averaged 700 deaths per day.
Move over, the U.S. is now preparing guidance that will reduce what Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Girior is calling "unnecessary" testing, that being individuals being retested after completing home quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test, according to a Reuters report. Girior stated that these types of tests are "clogging the system", which is causing long turnaround times in states with higher testing demand. According to Reuters, only 26 states can produce results within three days, with one state taking over five days.
Total Global Cases: Over 13.93 Million
Total Deaths: Over 591,000
Total Recovered: Over 8.27 Million
Flight Test
American Airlines
Travel demand and other economic woes have caused many major airlines to issue warnings of potential job cuts to employees in the fall. The partnership between American and JetBlue can be something that will help them survive the length of the pandemic.
