With President Trump pressing for end of quarantine period, some people want states to reopen
Donald Trump supporters are going out to the streets to protest against excessive quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic in different states around the US.
With the United States president, Donald Trump, wanting to reopen the economy by the end of April, some states that support him are going to end the quarantine period soon. Stores in Texas can soon begin selling merchandise with curbside service and hospitals can resume non-essential surgeries.
In Florida, people are returning to a few beaches and parks and protesters want things to go back to normal like it was before the outbreak. Trump is pressuring the governors of the 50 states to start reopening the economy and this has caused a rebellion amongst his supporters.
This has led some governors to ease restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus and if this continues the Covid-19 cases could increase rapidly. Adding to the pressure are the protests against stay-at-home orders organised by small groups and Trump supporters.
For the first time in weeks, people were able to visit some Florida beaches, but they were still subject to restrictions on times and activities. Beaches in big cities remain closed. Trump has been using social media to demand certain states end the quarantine period as early as Monday.
In Texas, several hundred people rallied on steps of the state Capitol to call for an end to social restrictions. Many protesters sought an immediate lifting of restrictions and chanted “Let us work!” in a state where more than 1 million people have filed for unemployment since the crisis began.
More than 200 people stood close together outside the governor’s mansion in Indianapolis, carrying American flags and signs demanding that Eric Holcomb lift restrictions. The state health department reported 529 new coronavirus cases between 7 April and midday Friday, raising the total to more than 10,600. The number of deaths rose by 26, to 545.
Health experts recommend extension of quarantine period
Public health officials said the ability to test enough people and trace contacts of those who are infected is crucial before easing restrictions, and that infections could surge anew unless people continue to take precautions.