As of 5 pm today, over 3.7 million total cases with over 263 thousand deaths have occurred worldwide. Sadly, the U.S. still has the most cases with over 1.22 million and over 74K deaths. In Colorado, 17,830 total cases with 931 deaths. Only three countries, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, seem to have the fewest cases and deaths and are reopening up their countries for businesses and people going back to work wearing facemasks.
A number of U.S. states saw a record increase in cases on Tuesday, including Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin. Minnesota has set a new record for cases nine out of the last 14 days, including 728 new cases on Wednesday.
On the flip side, many protestors in several states are demanding to go back to work as they are running out of money to pay their bills. President Trump has been making a hard choice in trying to get the U.S. economy back on track to the objections of the Democrats, who seem to want to break the economy and demand a lockdown. It’s a catch 22 on whether to slow down the crisis or start limiting businesses and people back to work. However, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his coronavirus task force would shift its focus to reviving U.S. business and social life and still monitor the medical situation of the crisis.
Many state governors have emphasized the political and social pressures they face getting the U.S. economy going again. ADP National Employment Report data on Wednesday showed that U.S. private employers laid off a record 20.236 million workers in April, suggesting the lockdowns could leave lasting scars on the economy.
Interestingly, BBC News asked several economists about which economic U, V, W, or L curve they felt would be the winner during this crisis. Each economist had a different perspective depending on which country you live in.
Leading Texas Republicans on Wednesday condemned the jailing of a Dallas salon owner who gained national attention for openly defying the governor’s stay-at-home order. The owner, Shelley Luther, was sentenced to a week in jail and fined $7,000 on Tuesday under the ruling from Judge Eric Moye. Ms. Luther had refused to comply with a cease and desist order — publicly ripping it up — and quickly became a champion among conservatives who have been agitating for a faster statewide reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who lifted the stay-at-home order last week, said “jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option. Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety; however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother!”
Judge Moye told Ms. Luther that he would consider only imposing a fine if she apologized and agreed to keep her business closed until Friday, when Governor Abbott has said salons can partially reopen. She refused. Public opinion may be in her favor!
Colorado governor Polis promoted National Nurses Day by having the Vice President of Colorado Nurses Assn. Laurie Rosenthal at his weekly press briefing as she emphasized to Coloradoans to stay home if they didn’t need to be in the public. Governor Polis said things are slowly improving, but we have a ways to go yet to reduced the crisis and deaths. His task force is putting pressure on the nursing homes and retirement villages to protect our beloved seniors.
Be sure to wear your facemasks in public as Governor Polis has suggested to prevent the dangerous virus spreading to you and your loved ones!
Stay Home, Stay Safe, & Stay Healthy!