A new and latest Coronavirus model has predicted more number of deaths in the United States. Predictions for the COVID 19 deaths in US by the end of August has been upped to 74000 now. This is specifically based on the possibility of opening up of the malls and restaurants by Texas and a few other states.
The director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Help Metrics and Evaluation, Dr. Chris Murray has claimed that these adjustments to the projected death toll has been made due to the long peak stages in some areas and the fact that a host of the people forgetting the social distancing norms.
The prime states that have chosen to reopen soon enough include Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Hawaii and Alaska. California witnessed people hoarding in hundreds at the beaches, which is clearly in violation of the Governor’s orders that the state will not ease the restrictions for a few weeks into the future.
Experts warn against easing restrictions
Texas has decided to reopen malls and restaurants from Friday, as per the statement by the Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He claimed that the lockdown or stay at home order has done its job and there is not further need to focus on that aspect anymore as part of the fight against COVID 19.
Texas has 25,000 coronavirus cases of which around 660 people have died already. While the Texas state authorities have stood by their plan, it may not be easy to find an exact results of this decision. Whether the decision to recall restrictions is good or bad will not be clear before at least a week. However, health experts do not find it right to reopen at this juncture.
As per the plan, the restaurants, movie theaters, malls and retail stores are set to open from Friday. They have been mandated to wor with just 25 per cent of their capacity. The libraries, museums and single-person offices are also set to reopen along with them, but bars, gyms, or hair and nail salons will remain shut.
Neale Chumbler, dean of the College of Health and Public Service at the University of North Texas, considers the gradual reopening may be beneficial. But the positive results can only be expected if people wear masks and respect social distancing norms. The fact that Texas has recommended masks, but has not made it mandatory in any way.
According to Benjamin Neuman, a virologist and the head of the biology department at Texas A&M-Texarkana, also feels the same. However, he believes that the social pressure is not that strong in Texas and it may not be that easy to maintain it. He also considers the decision to reopen to be of political nature than being based on medical science.
Well, we will just have to wait to see what are the repercussions of the decision, whether political or scientific, or even medical in nature.
Add Comment