35 US states release formal opening plans

35 of the 50 American states have issued formal opening plans, as US President Donald Trump on Wednesday exuded confidence that much better days are forward for the country that has seen more than 61,000 deaths over the past two months due to Covid-19.

“We grieve, and I have to say this so strongly we mourn every life lost to the invisible enemy. And we are encouraged that the worst of the pain and suffering is going to be behind us,” Trump said, during a White House conference with industry executives on “Opening Up America Again”.

By Wednesday, above 61,000 Americans died due to coronavirus and over 10 lakhs have tested positive with Covid 19; the highest for any country in the world. Most industries and business activities remain shut and over 95 per cent of the country’s 330 million population have been under stay-at-home orders. Over 26 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits and the number is expected to go up to more than 30 million.

The US economy has come to a halt. It grew by a negative 4.8 per cent in the first quarter. On Wednesday, Trump emitted confidence that the economy would be back to track by the fourth quarter.

He also added that, “We think we really have crossed a big boundary, and much better days are ahead, and I often say I see the light at the end of the tunnel very strongly."

Vice President Mike Pence said he is inspired by the progress, and even the hotspots around the country cases are levelling off and in some areas going downward. “Hospitalizations are declining even in the greater New York City area.” “That is a testament to the American people to the way the American people now nearly 45 days ago adopted the guidelines to reduce the spread. And as we come to the end of this mitigation period, states across the country have all embraced that same mitigation and social distancing efforts,” he said. “The American people have put them into practice. We have saved lives, we have protected the weak, we have kept our healthcare system, and we are well on our way to healing our land,” he added.

It was just on April 16 that Trump laid out a plan for opening up America again. “And we sit here today. I am informed that 35 states have already released formal opening plans many of which are consulting directly with our team here in the administration and we are going to continue to work with all of them,” Pence said.