FEDERALISM, AMERICA’S multi-tier political system, is facing its sternest stress test since the Civil War. The federal government’s halting response to the spread of covid-19 has spurred states and cities to take on the virus with a scattershot list of closures and public advisories.
Texas, Alaska and Hawaii have adopted mandatory quarantines, too—some aimed only at travellers from centres of infection such as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, some at incomers from anywhere. On March 31st Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s governor, instructed residents not to leave the state or to expect to sit for 14 days in quarantine on their return.
Yet this defence of crackdowns on interstate travel ironically entails measures that are sweeping rather than pinpointed. Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas, says America’s “woefully inadequate covid-19 testing regime” and the “insufficient data” it has supplied have led governments to “defend broader policies than if we had good data” on infection rates and patterns. With few facts to go on, states lack the tools to quarantine only sick or exposed individuals.
But as the pandemic plays out, some states may try to test the limits of legality and turn to harsher manoeuvres. States neighbouring Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota—which are weathering the virus without shelter-in-place orders—may grow skittish about cavalier policies across the border. Some states will ease closures sooner than prudence may dictate: Georgia’s governor, for example, re-opened beaches on April 3rd despite the state’s still-steep curve.
Some c’tries are curbing it from the beginning and some are as and when they find appropriate. There is no one silver bullet. Neither long or short curb may matter. People’s consciousness of physical distancing, hygiene, patience and invention of vaccine will help. Rest tactical.
'You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else' --Churchill
And possibly lead to fewer deaths.
It’s probably unconstitutional
This isn’t new. Known Positive cases have boarded planes and flown out of NYC. At least four different instances reported where KNOWN POSITIVE became symptomatic and was identified. KNOWN POSITIVE cases need to be monitored and forced to isolate. ARE WE THIS DUMB?
Interesting how many Tweets say how horrible U.S. is doing compared to country X with no consideration of population differences. If you have 5x the population at risk you need to expect higher numbers.
The license plate as a way to stop covid-19 is interesting. I could have a Georgia license plate, drive to New York then go down through Louisiana then into Texas then back up to Georgia and Florida. Isn’t this what long haul truckers do who are supplying the country with needed
What about the Chinese who are still flying in from China? Any chance we can tackle that minor problem?
This is actually the correct response for large areas,the key to defeating viral spread is compartmentalisation of geographical areas & establishing a safe zone for economic activity without PPE. Once 1 states eradicated it, move vulnerable there, establish quarantine, keep going
E,
It makes no sense. Every state has Coronavirus, so interstate bans aren’t doing anything
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