* The White House’s plan for “reopening” the economy has a lot of thoughtful and wise preconditions. For instance, this is something we’ve been talking about this week and it’s in an integral part of the initial “gating criteria”…
Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period
OR
Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests)
That is hugely important. And we are not yet there by any means and nobody really knows when we will be, either nationally or in Illinois. To be on the safe side, the guidelines also include a mandate for a two-week downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses and covid-like syndromic cases.
* Also, hospitals must be doing this…
Treat all patients without crisis care
AND
Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing
* As the governor said today, Illinois is getting close on the first precondition here, but not on the other two…
Ability to quickly set up safe and efficient screening and testing sites for symptomatic individuals and trace contacts of COVID+ results
Ability to test Syndromic/ILI-indicated persons for COVID and trace contacts of COVID+ results
Ensure sentinel surveillance sites are screening for asymptomatic cases and contacts for COVID+ results are traced (sites operate at locations that serve older individuals, lower-income Americans, racial minorities, and Native Americans)
So, even if test results are on the right downward track for two solid weeks, those things also have to happen before we can move forward.
* Illinois is getting there on both of these preconditions…
Ability to quickly and independently supply sufficient Personal Protective Equipment and critical medical equipment to handle dramatic surge in need
Ability to surge ICU capacity
* These requirements that will allow states and regions to continue past the original gating criteria will likely depend on specific definitions…
Protect the health and safety of workers in critical industries
Protect the health and safety of those living and working in high-risk facilities (e.g., senior care facilities)
Protect employees and users of mass transit
Advise citizens regarding protocols for social distancing and face coverings
Monitor conditions and immediately take steps to limit and mitigate any rebounds or outbreaks by restarting a phase or returning to an earlier phase, depending on severity
* More…
State and local officials may need to tailor the application of these criteria to local circumstances (e.g., metropolitan areas that have suffered severe COVID outbreaks, rural and suburban areas where outbreaks have not occurred or have been mild). Additionally, where appropriate, Governors should work on a regional basis to satisfy these criteria and to progress through the phases outlined below.
* Only after all those above preconditions have been met can states and regions move to what the White House refers to as “phase one.” These would be the employer rules once all those preconditions have been met and phase one is reached…
Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK, whenever possible and feasible with business operations.
If possible, RETURN TO WORK IN PHASES.
Close COMMON AREAS where personnel are likely to congregate and interact, or enforce strict social distancing protocols.
Minimize NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
Strongly consider SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS for personnel who are members of a VULNERABLE POPULATION.
* Before states and regions are allowed to move to phase two, they have to meet this requrement…
STATES AND REGIONS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A REBOUND AND THAT SATISFY THE GATING CRITERIA A SECOND TIME
See the top of this post for the gating criteria, including two weeks of a downward trajectory of reported cases. In other words, if positive test results start going back up or level off again, then phase two is out of the question.
* For employers in phase two…
Continue to ENCOURAGE TELEWORK, whenever possible and feasible with business operations.
Close COMMON AREAS where personnel are likely to congregate and interact, or enforce moderate social distancing protocols.
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL can resume.
Strongly consider SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS for personnel who are members of a VULNERABLE POPULATION.
* Here’s what would be allowed in phase two, which, remember, could only happen if all gating requirements have been met a second time…
SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITIES (e.g., daycare, camp) can reopen.
VISITS TO SENIOR CARE FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.
LARGE VENUES (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
ELECTIVE SURGERIES can resume, as clinically appropriate, on an outpatient and in-patient basis at facilities that adhere to CMS guidelines.
GYMS can remain open if they adhere to strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols.
BARS may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate.
* Before moving to phase three…
FOR STATES AND REGIONS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A REBOUND AND THAT SATISFY THE GATING CRITERIA A THIRD TIME
Again, that means new cases have to continue a downward trend for at least two more weeks straight, among all the other requirements above.
Phase three guidance for employers…
Resume UNRESTRICTED STAFFING of worksites.
Types of employers…
VISITS TO SENIOR CARE FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene.
LARGE VENUES (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under limited physical distancing protocols.
GYMS can remain open if they adhere to standard sanitation protocols.
BARS may operate with increased standing room occupancy, where applicable.
It’s actually a pretty good plan. Your thoughts?
- Roadrager - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:02 pm:
It sounds responsible. I wish someone would read it to the President.
- amalia - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:03 pm:
think it is way optimistic on large venue reopening. the distancing proposals are key, but still feel this is optimistic.
- SAP - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:07 pm:
I agree that it looks like a solid plan. I’m not used to seeing the U.S. Government leading on this issue. Very refreshing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:09 pm:
Here is my take on this plan;
This plan isn’t what the White House wants to say to it’s base from any podium, but it *is* the plan a White House knowing that science needs to lead…
…that’s a huge relief to me.
- Amalia - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:13 pm:
but the key is testing, and how will the states get that done? encouraging that both Durbin and Duckworth are on the task force for the topic….what’s up with that?…but nothing will go right until there is massive testing, and treatment.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:15 pm:
===think it is way optimistic on large venue reopening===
Maybe. But, that doesn’t mean the states have to allow them. It’s still just guidance.
- Sonny - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:16 pm:
Whose homework did they steal?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:17 pm:
Sonny, this looks like Fauci’s handiwork.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:18 pm:
“This is the day Dr. Fauci finally became President”
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:19 pm:
Like it as guidance. Boxes Trump in. Only a foolish governor would open up faster.
- Just A Dude - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:28 pm:
Even business leaders are concerned about reopening too quickly and without systematic controls. Like LBM stated, Trump is boxed in and cooler heads prevail. Pretty much a relief to see at this point.
- Union thug - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:30 pm:
Bet by tomorrow cadet bone spurs backs off this
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:31 pm:
Two weeks is not enough time to detect a resurgence, i would make it four weeks. There is a big lag between increased infection, symptoms, and testing.
- Burgee - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:31 pm:
It is good to see some guidance and a plan being developed and shared. I think there needs to be discussion on consequences for not abiding by the plan. Employers jumping too soon too fast to levels, employees not following the protocols, customers not adhering to the protocols, etc. Who oversees this to ensure they are followed? There aren’t enough police, fire, etc. to provide oversight and respond to complaints. And what if employees don’t agree with the plan the employer decides? What recourse do they have to object without risk or risk of losing their job?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:32 pm:
=== Bet by tomorrow … backs off this===
That’s why Dr. Fauci made sure there was a written document released.
Once it’s out there, this document will be the thing holding the Administration to task.
It’s as much as a box, as stated, as it is a plan.
Smart move by the scientists.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:33 pm:
This is very good. And I can’t emphasize this enough. Kudos to all involved and thank you President Trump (something I rarely if ever say) for showing leadership.
I sincerely hope that with a plan in place that he can stay the course. We saw the “somber” President once but it quickly faded. When he listens and follows the advice of experts good things happen. I hope all Republicans and conservative commentators unite behind this. We need this as a country.
Obviously we’ll need to continue to re-evaluate and re-assess. But this is a very, very positive step.
- don the legend - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:35 pm:
Whew. Good plan, lots to read and comprehend. Might be tough for some to absorb.
Wait until someone boils it down for Trump in words he can understand. He’ll melt down….again.
- AD - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:42 pm:
Some of you are attacking Trump on a good plan on response to a pandemic. I realize he has his faults but give it a rest.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:47 pm:
- AD -
Had others given it a rest, we wouldn’t have had a plan based on science.
It will always be his plan, the President owns it. Good. Let’s follow it, it’s smart to science.
- illinifan - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:48 pm:
Overall good plan based on science and facts. I see a lot of zoom meetings with businesses establishing plans. A lot of businesses will develop a whole new work model. What is great this locks the president into a plan and provides a good framework for these new regional collaboratives.
- Amalia - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:49 pm:
thanks for the guidance, Rich. I’m anxious to get back to sports but worried.
- walker - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:50 pm:
Good plan with metrics and goals. Apparently many of the country’s leading CEOs advised the President to cool his jets and listen to the experts. Regardless. he made the right decision.
- don the legend - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 5:51 pm:
AD. Not attacking. Just pointing out what Trump has done many many times before. I said it was a good plan but that has never stopped Trump before from ripping good things.
- Gaga Over IL - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:02 pm:
Very responsible and a well thought out plan…keeping us safe and healthy. Also, great seeing neighboring Govs work together in a bipartisan way. Gov DeWine has been a cool and steady hand in the Buckeye state.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:06 pm:
=Some of you are attacking Trump on a good plan on response to a pandemic. I realize he has his faults but give it a rest.=
When Trump stops lying and attacking anyone that does not kiss his ring, then maybe people will give it a rest. Until that time comes (and it never will) no dice
Decent plan, sounds a lot like what the governors and Fauci have been saying, so good.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:08 pm:
On the day Illinois reported its greatest number of Covid-19 fatalities, it seems to me that the primary purpose of this “plan” is to attempt to shift the responsibility for this human catastrophe away from Trump and onto the governors.
If it doesn’t work, it’s not Trump’s fault, it’s the governors who botched it.
One of the consistent features of the man’s entire life: never take responsibility for your failures.
Until there is an integrated national strategy, one that dispenses with what from the virus’ standpoint is the fiction of self-contained state and regional boundaries, we will not get the upper hand.
The countries that have done the best have an integrated, coordinated national strategy. Not an ad hoc, piecemeal one.
It’s like if a foreign army invaded the United States and it was left up to the individual states to fight it off while the U.S. military looked on.
I give many of the governors, including ours, plaudits for doing their best, but there’s a limit to what they can accomplish.
Rather than the way out, this plan, such as it is, guarantees the present nightmare will drag on.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:21 pm:
Was this so hard? Why couldn’t they have done this a month ago for closures?
- Frank talks - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:24 pm:
It’s a decent plan and starts to give some “time frames”. I know they are fluid based on testing and results but thats what this country wants. A light at the end of the tunnel.
May take some time to get there but it’s good to see there will be an ending. I imagine some states will be rather liberal in their interpretations on many of the benchmarks.
.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:46 pm:
=If it doesn’t work, it’s not Trump’s fault, it’s the governors who botched it.=
Maybe. But Trump’s political future hinges on this plan and its execution. He’s on the ballot in November and pointing fingers at governors is not a convincing argument for a guy running for re-election.
This is a sign that maybe, just maybe, guys like Fauci are getting through. We know that this wasn’t Trump’s idea of a plan so take that as a good sign we’re headed in the right direction.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:49 pm:
Sounds good, but let’s wait until Fox pipes up. Trump may change it tomorrow.
- revvedup - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:51 pm:
IF the States follow this guidance to the letter, it may work…IF the preconditions, especially accurate mass testing, are followed to the letter also. President Trump apparently finally listened to science (unless he changes his mind again). Illinois should continue with it’s plan for the foreseeable future (i.e., next 30 days) while testing and PPE availability improve.
- Union thug - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 6:52 pm:
OW - that hasn’t stopped him before.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 7:06 pm:
=== that hasn’t stopped him before.===
We’ll see how Dr. Fauci handles it.
- SSL - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 7:49 pm:
Hopefully the Gilead drug showing promise in trials here in Chicago is validated through further testing. Either a vaccine or effective treatment is the only way to get the upper hand.
- Ares - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 9:09 pm:
Amazing. Now we need the tests to ramp up, along with the public health agency staffing.
- MyTwoCents - Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:13 pm:
I’m impressed by this, it’s a solid plan. But it just goes to show that a lot of things have to go right over the course of months for us to be fully out of the woods and back to normal. But I think the definition of “large venue” is way too broad. There’s a huge difference between a restaurant, a church with a hundred attendees and packing 40,000 fans into Wrigley Field, yet they are seemingly grouped together. I think the major gatherings it’s overly optimistic but restaurants or other “large venues” it may be doable.
- The Dude - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 6:57 am:
Good plan. I don’t know why people act like Trump hasn’t been listening to the experts all along. This is another example of that.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 7:24 am:
- The Dude -
Asking. You do see the difference in what is said by POTUS often at the podium… and what this plan is.
With respect.
- Fighter of Foo - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 7:45 am:
I’m more surprised by the folks that were surprised that the plan was so well thought out. Shockingly, when you surround yourself around good people you can make good decisions. The guy cares about people. No matter what the media says.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 7:48 am:
=== The guy cares about people. No matter what the media says.===
“Both sides” kinda people?
(Sigh)
- Deep South - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 8:02 am:
You do see the difference in what is said by POTUS often at the podium… and what this plan is.
DHS and DOC say the same thing about the Governor
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 8:04 am:
=== DHS and DOC say the same thing about the Governor===
Example?
I’ll start;
POTUS says things are going to open quickly.
The White House plan says otherwise.
Ok, your turn…
- Deep South - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 8:15 am:
Ok, your turn…
GOV - orders all to not gather in groups
DOC - puts a hundred of offenders on the same recreational yard sharing phones and congregating in large groups
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 8:23 am:
- Deep South -
Yes. The DOC crisis is just that. A crisis.
I’m waiting to hear from the Administration too on that, not great.
Your suggestion?
Mine is trying to be honest to both the situation while also not putting so many in harms way. I dunno what suggestions the governor’s office has and not doing, or what options that are existing that aren’t in play.
If you do, shine your light.
- Pundent - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 8:44 am:
=The guy cares about people. No matter what the media says.=
I’m not sure what you mean by “the media”. I don’t watch MSNBC, CNN, or FOX which is what most people generically refer to as the media. I listen to what the President says directly. No commentary, interpretation, or spin. And I would absolutely and objectively disagree with your assertion. With the exception of his “somber” message of a couple of weeks ago, and yesterday’s announcement (which I absolutely support) it has been clear that he has placed his personal well-being ahead of the countries. We should be grateful that there are those like Dr. Fauci who are able to exert some influence in this time of crisis. Days like yesterday have been rare occurrences in this administration. But I’ll gladly take it.
- Earnest - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 9:26 am:
As a written document it provides well-grounded recommendations to frame discussion and decision-making. It does not equate to leadership that inspires all Americans to pull together to achieve those targets, to leadership that coordinates with physically bordering nations, nor to leadership that tackles the issue prevalent throughout a highly interconnected world.
- Deep South - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 10:33 am:
Your suggestion?
I tried to reply, but as usual, a comment that is not positive for the governor doesn’t make it to the board.
- Fighter of Foo - Friday, Apr 17, 20 @ 11:30 am:
Pundent
We should be grateful that there are those like Dr. Fauci (The President who listened to him) who are able to exert some influence in this time of crisis.
fixed it for you
I