During a public health crisis in the US, distancing power rests with the states

At press conferences for the past week, President Donald Trump has continued to push the idea that the United States could relax the distancing measures put in place around the country to slow the COVID-19 outbreak by Easter, April 12th. “America will, again, and soon, be open for business,” he said on Monday, despite public health experts’ warnings that April 12th is far too soon and would be catastrophic.

Many governors (both Republican and Democrat) and local officials are shrugging off that suggestion. “We are going to make sure we take care of the needs of New Hampshire first,” said Chris Sununu, the Republican governor of New Hampshire. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, also a Republican, said the same: “We’re planning this much longer...

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