U.S. says people should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people

Gatherings

Washington, March 17, 2020 (dpa/NAN) The U.S. government outlined new coronavirus guidelines, urging people to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, eating in restaurants and bars.

People should also make discretionary travel, in an effort to stem the spread of the disease.

Also, areas of California, including San Francisco announced fresh orders for residents to remain at home, unless it was absolutely necessary to go out.

The federal government measures also call on people to try to work from home and school children at home, when possible, and to not leave the house when ill.

In states with evidence of community transmission, bars, restaurants and gyms should close.

The guidelines are the latest sign of the seriousness of the new virus, and how significantly daily life will be affected, with economic implications that are still being digested.

U.S. President Donald Trump and public health officials insisted that it was up to younger people to follow the guidelines in order to slow the outbreak.

“It’s bad, it’s bad. But we’re going to be hopefully a best-case not a worst case,’’ Trump said.

The virus itself, he said was “not under control’’.

The president declined to dismiss the possibility of an economic recession.

“We’re not thinking in terms of recession,’’ Trump said, adding his focus was on fighting the virus.

The new restrictive recommendations are a “five-day trial,’’ Anthony Fauci, the government’s coronavirus expert, told a press briefing.

The trajectory of the outbreak could continue into the summer months.

Markets tumbled sharply as the new guidelines were laid out at a press conference, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly 12 per cent.

Trump said he was not considering nationwide quarantines at this point, keeping the focus on local hotspots.

He said he hopes they will not need domestic travel restrictions.

The U.S. Congress is facing increasing calls for action to help the real economy, as the measures to slow the spread of the virus are disrupting regular life across the country.

The effect of the pandemic on U.S. workers is likely to be severe, particularly given the relatively limited social safety nets and the high number of hourly wage earners, who often depend on their next paycheque to make rent.

The House of Representatives, last week, passed a bill meant to help some workers, but it is still stalled in the legislative process, amid warnings that the initial measure would not be enough to stop the bleeding.

“While some fiscal stimulation measures are being put into place, they’re not large or targeted enough to neutralise the contagion of the economic and market effects of the virus and they are being argued about,’’ Ray Dalio, founder of investment firm Bridgewater Associates, said in a LinkedIn post.

As he cut interest rates to near-zero on Sunday, Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, said fiscal policy typically plays a significant role in dealing with a crisis, in what appeared to be a hint to the government to act.

“We expect that the illness and the measures now being put in place to stem its spread will have a significant effect on economic activity in the near term,’’ he said.

The Fed has essentially dusted off much of its toolbox from the 2008 financial crisis to deal with the health crisis, but monetary policy alone will not suffice.

Republican Senator, Mitt Romney, called for the Senate to “act swiftly” while also needing to work urgently on additional response measures, such as providing $1,000 to every U.S. citizen to meet their short-term financial obligations.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, said he would propose a $750 billion stimulus plan as soon as Tuesday that would boost hospital capacity, expand unemployment insurance and provide aid to small businesses, among other steps.

At least, 70 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. and some 4,200 cases have been confirmed, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.

Already, as the working week got underway, more than 30 states had shuttered their public school systems, which National Public Radio estimated affects more than 30 million children. (dpa/NAN)

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde