WASHINGTON — Social distancing must continue through the summer, White House coronavirus-response coordinator Deborah Birx said Sunday, even as some states began moving to ease shutdown and stay-at-home guidelines meant to stem the spread of the pathogen.
As the U.S. death toll from the virus neared 55,000 — the highest fatality total for any country, and nearly equaling the number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War — a nationwide debate intensified over the weekend about how best to balance economic imperatives and public-health needs amid the pandemic.
Some governors, mostly in the South, who have given the go-ahead to reopen some businesses defended their decisions in television interviews, while counterparts in other states, backed by health experts, warned that abandoning restrictive guidelines too soon could trigger a deadly resurgence of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Vice President Mike Pence spurred hopes for a revival of summertime activity when he predicted last week in a radio interview that the pandemic would be “behind us” by the Memorial Day weekend, less than a month from now.
Birx, who appeared on a number of Sunday television interview shows, did not directly address that prediction when asked about it on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” But she said that for the next several months, any gatherings or commercial activity would need to incorporate physical separation between people.
“Social distancing will be with us through the summer, to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases,” Birx said.
Other public health experts, including Thomas Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University, expressed sharper skepticism about Pence’s projected timeline. “I don’t think it’s likely that we will be at that position by Memorial Day,” Inglesby said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” citing rising rates of infection in about half of the country.
“As we ease up on social distancing measures and economies begin to very carefully reopen, we are at risk of recurrence or re-spikes in the illness,” Inglesby said. “So I think everyone needs to be aware that even as we’re beginning to open up again, there is a clear chance of a rise in cases in states that are doing that.”
Pressed as to whether he would feel comfortable getting a haircut or a massage, even if he and the service provider were in protective gear, Inglesby said that in most parts of the country, “I don’t think so.”
States including Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alaska and Georgia have begun allowing businesses previously deemed nonessential, such as beauty salons and gyms, to reopen.
Scott Gottlieb, who was the Food and Drug Administration commissioner early in the Trump administration, added to the widespread criticism that Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, in particular, was moving too fast.
On Friday, businesses in the state including fitness centers, nail salons and tattoo parlors were cleared to receive customers. Beginning on Monday, movie theaters can open, and dine-in service will be allowed at restaurants, with some safety precautions.
“Georgia’s certainly jumping the gun, I think, getting started too early relative to where they are in their epidemic,” Gottlieb said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
While President Donald Trump has said he is leaving it up to governors how soon to allow businesses to reopen — an about-face from his prior claim of “absolute” authority in the matter — he also signaled support earlier this month for protesters in a handful of states who demand a speedy end to restrictions. Most polls indicate that a majority of Americans want to proceed more cautiously to lift restrictions on activity.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said he intended to avoid a too-rapid return of business activity. “I’m going to be very cautious,” said Hogan, who chairs the National Governors Association. “We’re going to make decisions (based) on science.”
