New York State, the epicenter of the epidemic in the United States, will force its nearly 20 million inhabitants to cover their faces outdoors, in situations where respecting the regulatory distance is impossible, warned its Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday. The governor has indicated that he is preparing to sign a decree, which will come into force three days later, requiring the wearing of a mask or a scarf covering the mouth and nose in public, in particular on public transport or in the street as soon as there are other people around you.
The American Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have recommended covering the face since April 3, but this is only a recommendation, as President Donald Trump pointed out at the time, much criticized for having said he wouldn’t watch her.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been recommending that New Yorkers cover their faces since April 2, on Wednesday called on all New Yorkers to cover their faces in particular when they go to school. ‘grocery store or supermarket, in order to protect their employees. He said the police would help stores enforce the measure, if they warn customers in writing when entering stores.
New York state already has more than 10,800 confirmed deaths from the disease, with another 752 dead in the past 24 hours, even as the spread of the infection has slowed, according to Cuomo.
The country’s testing capacity is dangerously insufficient
While awaiting treatment or a vaccine against the disease, New York State will systematically test staff in its hospitals and emergency services for the presence of antibodies linked to the coronavirus, he said during his briefing daily press. Some 2,000 tests can be performed daily, he added.
The ability to massively test the population, to find out who has already been infected with the virus, is a critical issue in reviving the economy, in New York, in the United States and around the world. “The more we can test, the more the economy can be reopened,” Cuomo said.
“But states can’t develop tests at the national level, you can’t get up to speed quickly. We need the federal government to be in the game. We don’t want the states to compete like they did for respirators, ”he added.
Before lifting the containment measures imposed since March in the United States, experts repeat that it is necessary to set up massive screening for the new coronavirus in order to be able to monitor its resurgence and react more quickly if necessary.
“Our testing system is great,” the president said Tuesday. “The country’s testing capacity is dangerously insufficient,” replied the Leader of the Democratic opposition in the Senate, Chuck Schumer.
Over 2 million cases
In addition, more than two million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially declared worldwide, including more than 131,000 deaths, according to a count made by AFP late Wednesday afternoon.
The United States is paying the heaviest price, with more than 28,000 deaths for more than 637,000 cases. Next come Italy (with 21,645 dead), Spain (18,579), France (17,167) and the United Kingdom (12,868).
India wants to get back to work
Finally, millions of Indians will be able to return to work from next week, despite the confinement, after the announcement on Wednesday by New Delhi of new rules which frame a partial resumption of economic activity, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“To alleviate the hardships of the people, additional economic activities will be authorized” from April 20, indicates a directive from the Ministry of the Interior. National containment is in effect until May 3 in the country of 1.3 billion inhabitants.
“The new consolidated directives are intended to operate sectors of the economy which are vital from the point of view of agricultural and rural development”, the text continues. According to these regulations, additional agricultural sectors (plantations, fishing, etc.), construction and certain industries may in particular resume work from Monday, under certain conditions.
Certain sectors essential to the economy were already theoretically exempted from containment measures, but may in practice face difficulties in operating in a country at a standstill. Strict sanitary measures will have to be taken into account.
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