csmonitor--2020-05-06--Texas and California reopen: different pace, similar pressure

In California , as in Texas , public pressure is part of the political equation .
“ My civil liberties are to be able to come to our beach – the beach I pay taxes for , ” says educator Penny Fraumeni in Newport Beach .
In Texas , the phased reopening is being guided by science and data , the governor says , albeit with caveats that in a large and diverse state a one-size-fits-all approach may be counterproductive .
In particular he points to a decline in the “ test-positivity rate , ” or the percentage of tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital systems that aren ’ t overwhelmed with patients .
Both are pursuing a reopening of their economies amid a pandemic , though California ’ s opening will be slower .
Both are balancing their own authority with some local autonomy .
And both say data and science are driving their decisions , even at a time when a lot remains unknown about how to track and contain the COVID-19 disease .
The nation ’ s two most populous states are culturally and economically a world apart .
Yet for California ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helm in Texas , what may be most interesting for now are some leadership similarities .
At what point does the nonessential become essential again ?
And what is essential , anyway ?
Educated minds may disagree , especially if you ’ re leading a state during a pandemic .
Just ask Gavin Newsom and Greg Abbott .
The governors of California and Texas , respectively , don ’ t agree on much – including how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic .
On May 1 , for example , as the Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the California governor closed beaches in Orange County .
Still , in recent weeks they have found themselves following similar paths as they reopen in stages and lead their states into the uncertainty of a post-lockdown , pre-vaccine world .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Amid conflicting pressures from citizens , both governors are now pursuing a degree of reopening .
Both find themselves balancing their own authority with some local autonomy .
And both say data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even at a time when a lot remains unknown about how to track and contain the COVID-19 disease .
Mr. Abbott , a Republican , has prioritized a quick reopening of businesses while Mr. Newsom , a Democrat , is taking a more cautious approach .
California has seen more coronavirus deaths than Texas and many other states .
The reopening efforts could showcase the possibilities of regional flexibility within states , but also remain fraught with challenges .
“ I ’ m very worried about the states , ” says G. William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bipartisan Policy Center , a centrist think tank in Washington , which recommends that the U.S. triple its coronavirus testing capacity in the next several weeks .
“ Most states have opened up too broadly , too quickly .
But digging down below the aggregate state level , and looking at counties and localities , obviously you get a different picture.
” The pressures facing governors around the nation are evident in Shelley Luther ’ s salon in Dallas .
Since she reopened her salon on April 24 , in defiance of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a cause célèbre for people around the country demanding the easing of virus-related restrictions .
Business has been busier during the pandemic than before it , she says .
“ People are proud of what we ’ ve been doing ... and want to come and support us , ” she added in a May 2 interview .
“ The government was not helping us the way they said they would , ” she says , citing the worries local businesses face about paying their mortgages and seeking emergency loans .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Dallas sentenced her to a week in jail and a fine of at least $ 3,500 for defying state and county orders .
Ms. Luther , who says she doesn ’ t know anyone who has contracted COVID-19 , told Judge Eric Moyé that “ feeding my kids is not selfish.
” “ The rule of law governs us , ” the judge said .
“ People can not take it upon themselves to determine what they will and will not do.
” But the pandemic has decimated the Texas economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider the coronavirus a serious crisis , 72 % are “ extremely ” or “ very ” concerned about the national economy , according to a Texas Tribune/University of Texas at Austin poll .
This has seen Governor Abbott seize command of when and how the state returns to work , says Joshua Blank , research director at the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin .
“ Now the purpose is to limit the public health consequences to an acceptable level in service of restarting the economy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be determined solely by the governor going forward , which I ’ ll say is a pretty big gamble on his part.
” Since May 1 malls , museums , restaurants , and movie theaters have been allowed to reopen at 25 % of their total capacity .
Hair salons are being allowed to open on May 8 , and gyms on May 18 .
This is a slight acceleration from Governor Abbott ’ s original plan of “ Phase 2 ” starting “ as early as May 18 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social-distancing guidelines ( though they can ’ t be enforced with penalties ) , scaling to 30,000 tests per day , and mobilizing a team of 4,000 “ contact tracers ” by May 11 .
The phased reopening is being guided by science and data , the governor says , albeit with caveats that in a large and diverse state a one-size-fits-all approach may be counterproductive .
Counties with fewer than five active cases – 108 of the state ’ s 254 counties right now – can open businesses to 50 % their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor has also issued special guidance for nursing homes and Texans over 65 , who make up 70 % of fatalities in the state .
In particular he points to a decline in the “ test-positivity rate , ” or the percentage of tests that have been returned positive , and that hospital systems aren ’ t overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients .
In that context , some have criticized his plan as too modest .
“ If you look at the data , in Texas and most states it ’ s safe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , ” says Kevin Roberts , a part-time member of the governor ’ s advisory group on reopening the state and executive director of the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation .
“ We ’ ve been told to watch data , flatten the curve .
Well what have we been doing ?
Watching data , flattening curve .
Now we ’ re here , the goalposts have moved , ” he adds , referencing critics of the governor ’ s plan – notably local Democratic leaders .
The critics , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal posts as health officials advising the governor and President Donald Trump .
White House guidelines for reopening recommend a two-week decline in documented cases before states start reopening .
A paper co-authored by Dr. Mark McClellan , one of Governor Abbott ’ s advisers and a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner , also recommends waiting for a two-week decline , as well as waiting until a state can test everyone with COVID-19 symptoms .
Over the weekend , the state added more than 2,000 cases – its highest increase since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texans have died .
Texas is near the bottom when it comes to per capita testing in the country .
But if the state expands testing and contact tracing as it plans to , those are good indicators to track as businesses reopen , says Luis Ostrosky , an infectious disease specialist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston .
So are the social distancing guidelines – set out in the governor ’ s plan .
“ If we follow these rules carefully we ’ re going to be successful , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a mechanism to scale back , as painful as it may be , ” says Dr. Ostrosky .
Indeed , Governor Abbott has given himself the ability to accelerate or reverse on easing restrictions .
His order also supersedes any local orders that may conflict with it .
In Bexar County , which includes most of San Antonio , for example , face coverings are still “ required ” even though the governor ’ s order means such local ordinances can ’ t be enforced .
In Dallas County , home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Clay Jenkins worries Governor Abbott is moving too fast on reopening .
“ We have not seen the death and disease that [ other major ] urban areas have seen , but it doesn ’ t mean we couldn ’ t still have that , ” he says .
On the ground , the first week of Texas ’ s reopening has been fairly muted .
Some restaurants haven ’ t reopened to dine-in customers , in part because of the time it would take to set up .
Many movie theaters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Governor ’ s mansion in Austin – and shoppers seem to be venturing out in trickles instead of droves .
“ It ’ s going to take a while to build that confidence up .
People are cautious with their spending , they don ’ t know what the future holds , ” says Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff .
“ There ’ s going to be a reluctance to move forward , but we just have to deal with it.
” In Newport Beach , California , you couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily closed.
” All caps .
Red letters .
It was posted on a sandwich board just steps from Penny Fraumeni ’ s front door on the corner of 35th Street and paradise .
Nor could you miss the police helicopters , which twice passed over the handful of scattered sunbathers on Newport Beach last Saturday , asking people to vacate the area .
Ms. Fraumeni , visiting her family ’ s oceanside cottage from her home in Hacienda Heights , did not move from her isolated beach chair .
Nor did she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by James Patterson .
“ My civil liberties are to be able to come to our beach – the beach I pay taxes for , ” says the educator in sunglasses .
In her view , Governor Newsom violated those rights when he closed this and all beaches in Orange County on May 1 , citing crowds at a time when Californians need to practice social distancing .
For seven weeks , Ms. Fraumeni has obeyed the governor ’ s statewide lockdown – the first in the nation .
But when he overruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week to keep the beach open , that was “ over the top , ” she believes .
The governor appears to have heard that message – to a degree .
On Monday , he announced that the Golden State would take the first steps to reopen California ’ s economy , beginning Friday with curb-side pickup for “ lower risk ” retailers like bookstores , clothing stores , and florists ( it ’ s almost Mother ’ s Day , after all ) .
Perhaps more notable , he ’ s loosening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to open further if they meet certain virus-containment criteria .
Counties less affected by the virus , including four with no confirmed cases , have been clamoring for local autonomy , and a few have gone ahead with reopening .
They ’ re backed by swarms of vociferous protesters .
But while the governor has publicly empathized with the protesters , he maintains that it is science and data – not politics and pushback – that are allowing him to start to gradually reopen the state .
That , and the vigilance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing .
“ He is a data-driven guy , ” says Zev Yaroslavsky , a former Los Angeles politician now with the University of California in Los Angeles .
“ In this instance , the data-driven approach is perfect for the crisis we have.
” When mayor of San Francisco , Mr. Newsom joined the management trend in cities like Baltimore and New York , measuring city services and budgets through a data system known as “ SFStat.
” He repeatedly comes back to key metrics guiding a gradual reopening of this vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he often calls it .
On Monday , he pointed to a “ report card ” that showed a two-week stabilization in hospitalizations and a slight decline in COVID-19-related stays in intensive care units .
The state is “ on schedule ” with personal protective equipment , health care surge capacity , and testing and contact tracing capability , according to the report card .
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in California has declined for the first time , week over week .
With more than 2,400 such deaths reported so far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York ( more than 24,000 ) .
But there ’ s “ a lot we still don ’ t know ” about the data and science of the virus , says Emily Blodget , an expert on infectious diseases at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles .
Political leaders may look for a decline in cases for their guide , but more testing is bound to reveal more cases , says Dr. Blodget .
The most reliable guides for decision-making are hospitalizations and ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back the governor ’ s cautious , data-based approach , with 70 % of voters approving his job performance , according to one poll released on May 1 .
Similarly , 70 % say they are more concerned that the shelter-in-place orders will end too soon , causing the virus to spread more , than are worried the orders will go on for too long , causing greater economic damage .
More than 4 million people in California have filed for unemployment benefits – with more coming .
“ I ’ m a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to do for the common good , ” says Erin Crane , holding her terrier-mix Ridley in front of her home in Newport Beach .
The mother of two resides just paces away from a stunning cliff view of the ocean .
She wears a mask on her walks , though many residents don ’ t .
The Southern California heat wave that sent people seeking ocean sun and fun two weekends ago – and which prompted the governor ’ s crackdown – caused chaos on her street of closely packed homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was less of an issue , but with the beach parking lot closed , cars and maskless pedestrians crammed the streets and sidewalks .
She ’ s glad the governor closed the beach .
“ It ’ s unfortunate , but we need to stay healthy.
” In some cases , communities that want more freedom to open up are throwing their own data back at the governor .
Orange County has experienced 61 COVID-19 deaths so far – out of a population of 3.2 million .
The local hospital has a 475-bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in beds at any time , maintains Mayor Will O ’ Neill .
There is no ventilator shortage .
“ I know this governor has talked quite a bit about ... putting data over politics .
So if he needs more data , we ’ ll be happy to provide more data , ” said the mayor , after a special council session Saturday .
Now the state and oceanside communities are working together , and this week reached agreements to open up several major beaches , including Newport Beach .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surfing , and jogging , but no passive games or sunbathing .
Orange County was once a GOP bastion , and many people here feel like the Democratic governor is sticking it to them .
Some local politicians are playing up the division through legal action .
Regrettably , “ it ’ s now getting really political , ” says Newport Beach council member Joy Brenner .
Still , she agrees that localities should have more say in reopening .
“ I don ’ t think one-size-fits-all is the answer.
” That seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – with limits .
This week he criticized a few counties that have defied his baseline conditions and are allowing higher-risk businesses like malls , gyms , and full-service restaurants to open .
“ They ’ re making a big mistake .
They ’ re putting their public at risk .
They ’ re putting our progress at risk.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

In California, as in Texas, public pressure is part of the political equation. “My civil liberties are to be able to come to our beach – the beach I pay taxes for,” says educator Penny Fraumeni in Newport Beach.
In Texas, the phased reopening is being guided by science and data, the governor says, albeit with caveats that in a large and diverse state a one-size-fits-all approach may be counterproductive. In particular he points to a decline in the “test-positivity rate,” or the percentage of tests that have been returned positive, and hospital systems that aren’t overwhelmed with patients.
Texas and California offer two different visions of how to handle the coronavirus lockdowns and end them. Here’s an up-close look at the challenges – and the surprising similarities.
Both are pursuing a reopening of their economies amid a pandemic, though California’s opening will be slower. Both are balancing their own authority with some local autonomy. And both say data and science are driving their decisions, even at a time when a lot remains unknown about how to track and contain the COVID-19 disease.
The nation’s two most populous states are culturally and economically a world apart. Yet for California’s Democratic governor and the Republican at the helm in Texas, what may be most interesting for now are some leadership similarities.
At what point does the nonessential become essential again? And what is essential, anyway?
Educated minds may disagree, especially if you’re leading a state during a pandemic. Just ask Gavin Newsom and Greg Abbott.
The governors of California and Texas, respectively, don’t agree on much – including how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. On May 1, for example, as the Texas governor was allowing some businesses to reopen, the California governor closed beaches in Orange County.
Why We Wrote This Texas and California offer two different visions of how to handle the coronavirus lockdowns and end them. Here’s an up-close look at the challenges – and the surprising similarities.
Still, in recent weeks they have found themselves following similar paths as they reopen in stages and lead their states into the uncertainty of a post-lockdown, pre-vaccine world.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Amid conflicting pressures from citizens, both governors are now pursuing a degree of reopening. Both find themselves balancing their own authority with some local autonomy. And both say data and science are driving their decisions, even at a time when a lot remains unknown about how to track and contain the COVID-19 disease.
Mr. Abbott, a Republican, has prioritized a quick reopening of businesses while Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, is taking a more cautious approach. California has seen more coronavirus deaths than Texas and many other states.
The reopening efforts could showcase the possibilities of regional flexibility within states, but also remain fraught with challenges.
“I’m very worried about the states,” says G. William Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a centrist think tank in Washington, which recommends that the U.S. triple its coronavirus testing capacity in the next several weeks. “Most states have opened up too broadly, too quickly. But digging down below the aggregate state level, and looking at counties and localities, obviously you get a different picture.”
A red-state governor reopens
The pressures facing governors around the nation are evident in Shelley Luther’s salon in Dallas.
Since she reopened her salon on April 24, in defiance of state and local orders, Ms. Luther has become a cause célèbre for people around the country demanding the easing of virus-related restrictions. Business has been busier during the pandemic than before it, she says.
“People are proud of what we’ve been doing ... and want to come and support us,” she added in a May 2 interview.
“The government was not helping us the way they said they would,” she says, citing the worries local businesses face about paying their mortgages and seeking emergency loans.
On May 5, a civil court judge in Dallas sentenced her to a week in jail and a fine of at least $3,500 for defying state and county orders. Ms. Luther, who says she doesn’t know anyone who has contracted COVID-19, told Judge Eric Moyé that “feeding my kids is not selfish.”
“The rule of law governs us,” the judge said. “People cannot take it upon themselves to determine what they will and will not do.”
But the pandemic has decimated the Texas economy. And while 66% of Texas voters consider the coronavirus a serious crisis, 72% are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the national economy, according to a Texas Tribune/University of Texas at Austin poll.
This has seen Governor Abbott seize command of when and how the state returns to work, says Joshua Blank, research director at the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.
“Now the purpose is to limit the public health consequences to an acceptable level in service of restarting the economy,” he adds. “That acceptable level is going to be determined solely by the governor going forward, which I’ll say is a pretty big gamble on his part.”
Eric Gay/AP View caption Hide caption Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds the Governor's Report to Reopen Texas book during a news conference where he announced he would relax some restrictions imposed on businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 27, 2020, in Austin, Texas.
Since May 1 malls, museums, restaurants, and movie theaters have been allowed to reopen at 25% of their total capacity. Hair salons are being allowed to open on May 8, and gyms on May 18. This is a slight acceleration from Governor Abbott’s original plan of “Phase 2” starting “as early as May 18,” but it’s combined with social-distancing guidelines (though they can’t be enforced with penalties), scaling to 30,000 tests per day, and mobilizing a team of 4,000 “contact tracers” by May 11.
The phased reopening is being guided by science and data, the governor says, albeit with caveats that in a large and diverse state a one-size-fits-all approach may be counterproductive. Counties with fewer than five active cases – 108 of the state’s 254 counties right now – can open businesses to 50% their total capacity, for example. The governor has also issued special guidance for nursing homes and Texans over 65, who make up 70% of fatalities in the state.
In particular he points to a decline in the “test-positivity rate,” or the percentage of tests that have been returned positive, and that hospital systems aren’t overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
In that context, some have criticized his plan as too modest.
“If you look at the data, in Texas and most states it’s safe to reopen maybe even more aggressively than we have,” says Kevin Roberts, a part-time member of the governor’s advisory group on reopening the state and executive director of the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation.
“We’ve been told to watch data, flatten the curve. Well what have we been doing? Watching data, flattening curve. Now we’re here, the goalposts have moved,” he adds, referencing critics of the governor’s plan – notably local Democratic leaders.
The critics, however, say they’re using the same goal posts as health officials advising the governor and President Donald Trump.
White House guidelines for reopening recommend a two-week decline in documented cases before states start reopening. A paper co-authored by Dr. Mark McClellan, one of Governor Abbott’s advisers and a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, also recommends waiting for a two-week decline, as well as waiting until a state can test everyone with COVID-19 symptoms.
Over the weekend, the state added more than 2,000 cases – its highest increase since the outbreak began. To date, 884 Texans have died.
Texas is near the bottom when it comes to per capita testing in the country. But if the state expands testing and contact tracing as it plans to, those are good indicators to track as businesses reopen, says Luis Ostrosky, an infectious disease specialist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston. So are the social distancing guidelines – set out in the governor’s plan.
“If we follow these rules carefully we’re going to be successful, and if we don’t there’s a mechanism to scale back, as painful as it may be,” says Dr. Ostrosky.
Indeed, Governor Abbott has given himself the ability to accelerate or reverse on easing restrictions. His order also supersedes any local orders that may conflict with it.
David J. Phillip/AP View caption Hide caption Nyha Carter (left) helps Brianna Fregia inside a Journeys shoe store in The Woodlands, Texas, on May 5, 2020. The Woodlands Mall reopened Tuesday with increased health and safety measures in place, as the state's governor eased coronavirus-related restrictions on the economy.
In Bexar County, which includes most of San Antonio, for example, face coverings are still “required” even though the governor’s order means such local ordinances can’t be enforced.
In Dallas County, home to Ms. Luther’s salon, County Judge Clay Jenkins worries Governor Abbott is moving too fast on reopening.
“We have not seen the death and disease that [other major] urban areas have seen, but it doesn’t mean we couldn’t still have that,” he says.
On the ground, the first week of Texas’s reopening has been fairly muted. Some restaurants haven’t reopened to dine-in customers, in part because of the time it would take to set up. Many movie theaters and museums have stayed closed – including the Governor’s mansion in Austin – and shoppers seem to be venturing out in trickles instead of droves.
“It’s going to take a while to build that confidence up. People are cautious with their spending, they don’t know what the future holds,” says Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “There’s going to be a reluctance to move forward, but we just have to deal with it.”
A blue-state leader focused on health data
In Newport Beach, California, you couldn’t miss the sign: “Beach area temporarily closed.” All caps. Red letters. It was posted on a sandwich board just steps from Penny Fraumeni’s front door on the corner of 35th Street and paradise.
Nor could you miss the police helicopters, which twice passed over the handful of scattered sunbathers on Newport Beach last Saturday, asking people to vacate the area.
Ms. Fraumeni, visiting her family’s oceanside cottage from her home in Hacienda Heights, did not move from her isolated beach chair. Nor did she cease reading “The 13-Minute Murder” by James Patterson.
“My civil liberties are to be able to come to our beach – the beach I pay taxes for,” says the educator in sunglasses. In her view, Governor Newsom violated those rights when he closed this and all beaches in Orange County on May 1, citing crowds at a time when Californians need to practice social distancing. For seven weeks, Ms. Fraumeni has obeyed the governor’s statewide lockdown – the first in the nation. But when he overruled the city council’s vote last week to keep the beach open, that was “over the top,” she believes.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP View caption Hide caption California Gov. Gavin Newsom gestures during a news conference at the Governor's Office of Emergency Services in Rancho Cordova, California, on April 14, 2020. Mr. Newsom is allowing a degree of local autonomy in reopening, but this week criticized a few counties that have defied his baseline conditions.
The governor appears to have heard that message – to a degree.
On Monday, he announced that the Golden State would take the first steps to reopen California’s economy, beginning Friday with curb-side pickup for “lower risk” retailers like bookstores, clothing stores, and florists (it’s almost Mother’s Day, after all). Perhaps more notable, he’s loosening the reins on local communities, allowing them to open further if they meet certain virus-containment criteria. Counties less affected by the virus, including four with no confirmed cases, have been clamoring for local autonomy, and a few have gone ahead with reopening. They’re backed by swarms of vociferous protesters.
But while the governor has publicly empathized with the protesters, he maintains that it is science and data – not politics and pushback – that are allowing him to start to gradually reopen the state. That, and the vigilance of Californians staying home and practicing social distancing.
“He is a data-driven guy,” says Zev Yaroslavsky, a former Los Angeles politician now with the University of California in Los Angeles. “In this instance, the data-driven approach is perfect for the crisis we have.”
When mayor of San Francisco, Mr. Newsom joined the management trend in cities like Baltimore and New York, measuring city services and budgets through a data system known as “SFStat.”
He repeatedly comes back to key metrics guiding a gradual reopening of this vast and varied “nation-state,” as he often calls it. On Monday, he pointed to a “report card” that showed a two-week stabilization in hospitalizations and a slight decline in COVID-19-related stays in intensive care units. The state is “on schedule” with personal protective equipment, health care surge capacity, and testing and contact tracing capability, according to the report card.
Francine Kiefer/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Erin Crane holds her terrier-mix, Ridley, in front of her home in Newport Beach, California, on May 2, 2020. "I'm a rule follower. We do what we need to do for the common good," she says of the governor's recent order to close the beaches in her county.
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in California has declined for the first time, week over week. With more than 2,400 such deaths reported so far, California is in far better shape than New York (more than 24,000).
But there’s “a lot we still don’t know” about the data and science of the virus, says Emily Blodget, an expert on infectious diseases at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Political leaders may look for a decline in cases for their guide, but more testing is bound to reveal more cases, says Dr. Blodget. The most reliable guides for decision-making are hospitalizations and ICU stays, she says.
Californians broadly back the governor’s cautious, data-based approach, with 70% of voters approving his job performance, according to one poll released on May 1. Similarly, 70% say they are more concerned that the shelter-in-place orders will end too soon, causing the virus to spread more, than are worried the orders will go on for too long, causing greater economic damage. More than 4 million people in California have filed for unemployment benefits – with more coming.
“I’m a rule follower. We do what we need to do for the common good,” says Erin Crane, holding her terrier-mix Ridley in front of her home in Newport Beach. The mother of two resides just paces away from a stunning cliff view of the ocean. She wears a mask on her walks, though many residents don’t.
The Southern California heat wave that sent people seeking ocean sun and fun two weekends ago – and which prompted the governor’s crackdown – caused chaos on her street of closely packed homes, she says. The beach itself was less of an issue, but with the beach parking lot closed, cars and maskless pedestrians crammed the streets and sidewalks. She’s glad the governor closed the beach. “It’s unfortunate, but we need to stay healthy.”
In some cases, communities that want more freedom to open up are throwing their own data back at the governor. Orange County has experienced 61 COVID-19 deaths so far – out of a population of 3.2 million. The local hospital has a 475-bed capacity, with never more than 25 people in beds at any time, maintains Mayor Will O’Neill. There is no ventilator shortage.
Francine Kiefer/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Newport Beach Council member Joy Brenner points to Corona Del Mar beach in California on May 2, 2020. California Gov. Gavin Newsom had closed the beach the day before. Although she supported closure for safety reasons, she believes locals should have a say in such decisions.
“I know this governor has talked quite a bit about ... putting data over politics. So if he needs more data, we’ll be happy to provide more data,” said the mayor, after a special council session Saturday.
Now the state and oceanside communities are working together, and this week reached agreements to open up several major beaches, including Newport Beach. The agreements allow activities such as walking, surfing, and jogging, but no passive games or sunbathing.
Orange County was once a GOP bastion, and many people here feel like the Democratic governor is sticking it to them. Some local politicians are playing up the division through legal action. Regrettably, “it’s now getting really political,” says Newport Beach council member Joy Brenner. Still, she agrees that localities should have more say in reopening. “I don’t think one-size-fits-all is the answer.”
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That seems to be where Governor Newsom is headed – with limits. This week he criticized a few counties that have defied his baseline conditions and are allowing higher-risk businesses like malls, gyms, and full-service restaurants to open. “They’re making a big mistake. They’re putting their public at risk. They’re putting our progress at risk.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-06--Congress, and the the country, weigh reopening America

This week , the halls of Congress might seem like a pretty good metaphor for the state of the nation .
On one side of the Capitol , the GOP-controlled Senate has returned and is back in session .
The face masks and social distancing are jarring notes amidst the chamber ’ s elaborate , historic decorations .
But senators are proceeding with business , if not exactly business as usual .
There was a confirmation vote on Monday afternoon .
Hearings proceeded on Tuesday .
On the other side of the Capitol , the House is still out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders scrapped plans to reconvene after some rank-and-file members argued that they would be setting a bad example for the country to meet in the midst of a pandemic , while putting their own health at risk .
Meanwhile , the U.S. itself is being pulled in opposite directions .
Some governors , with the support of President Donald Trump , are moving cautiously to relax restrictions and reopen their states , in the hope of saving the economy .
Others have been reluctant to loosen stay-at-home orders , cognizant that many public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike in COVID-19 cases .
States that are opening up aren ’ t really throwing wide all the doors and saying “ let ’ s get back to normal.
” Many of the moves are small steps – permitting small numbers of customers into stores , for example .
Current opening activities “ are often in relatively narrow categories , ” FiveThirtyEight ’ s Nate Silver tweeted on Wednesday .
And a majority of Americans say they oppose the reopening of many commercial establishments , according to a new Washington Post/University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , customers may largely stay at home .
The Trump administration appeared to bow to this anxious political reality on Wednesday .
Recently , officials had floated the idea of shutting down the White House coronavirus task force , turning instead toward reopening the economy .
But in the face of sharp criticism , President Trump appeared to reverse course , announcing it would remain in business , though perhaps with some new members .
“ The Task Force will continue on indefinitely , ” he tweeted .
Let us know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Dear reader:
This week, the halls of Congress might seem like a pretty good metaphor for the state of the nation.
On one side of the Capitol, the GOP-controlled Senate has returned and is back in session. The face masks and social distancing are jarring notes amidst the chamber’s elaborate, historic decorations. But senators are proceeding with business, if not exactly business as usual. There was a confirmation vote on Monday afternoon. Hearings proceeded on Tuesday.
On the other side of the Capitol, the House is still out and the corridors are largely empty. Democratic leaders scrapped plans to reconvene after some rank-and-file members argued that they would be setting a bad example for the country to meet in the midst of a pandemic, while putting their own health at risk.
Meanwhile, the U.S. itself is being pulled in opposite directions. Some governors, with the support of President Donald Trump, are moving cautiously to relax restrictions and reopen their states, in the hope of saving the economy. Others have been reluctant to loosen stay-at-home orders, cognizant that many public health authorities warn it could lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In truth, the national mood isn’t definitively black-and-white, open-or-shut.
States that are opening up aren’t really throwing wide all the doors and saying “let’s get back to normal.” Many of the moves are small steps – permitting small numbers of customers into stores, for example. Current opening activities “are often in relatively narrow categories,” FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver tweeted on Wednesday.
And a majority of Americans say they oppose the reopening of many commercial establishments, according to a new Washington Post/University of Maryland poll. Even if businesses are open, customers may largely stay at home.
The Trump administration appeared to bow to this anxious political reality on Wednesday. Recently, officials had floated the idea of shutting down the White House coronavirus task force, turning instead toward reopening the economy. But in the face of sharp criticism, President Trump appeared to reverse course, announcing it would remain in business, though perhaps with some new members.
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“The Task Force will continue on indefinitely,” he tweeted.
Let us know what you're thinking at csmpolitics@csmonitor.com.


csmonitor--2020-05-06--Should Biden choose a black woman as his running mate?

After a devastating start to the Democratic primary , Joe Biden 's campaign was revived when black voters in South Carolina and throughout the South overwhelmingly sided with him .
Now that he 's the presumptive Democratic nominee , black voters and leaders are pressing for him to pick a black woman as his running mate .
Mr. Biden launched a committee last week to begin vetting possible candidates for the vice presidency , a process he has said will likely last through July .
He has already committed to picking a woman .
But black voters and leaders say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black woman .
They argue that Mr. Biden 's success – and that of the Democratic Party as a whole – depends on black people turning out to vote in November .
They want a tangible return for their loyalty , not just a thank you for showing up on Election Day .
`` Black people want an acknowledgement of the many years of support they have given the Democratic Party , '' said Niambi Carter , a Howard University political science professor .
House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn , whose endorsement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping widen Mr. Biden 's winning margin and start his avalanche of March primary victories , said `` clearly '' he would prefer a black woman .
But he insisted he 's not pushing Mr. Biden in that direction .
`` I 'm the father of three grown African American women .
So naturally I prefer an African American woman , but it does n't have to be , '' Mr. Clyburn said .
`` I 've made that very clear . ''
Mr. Biden has been unusually vocal about the people he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's referenced two black women , Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Stacey Abrams , the former Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia .
Other black women , including Rep. Val Demings of Florida and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , have also been mentioned .
But Mr. Biden is also thought to be considering several white women , including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , and Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
President Donald Trump said his November opponent owes the spot to Ms. Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have won every single state on Super Tuesday '' if Ms. Warren had dropped out of the primary race earlier .
In an interview on Monday with the New York Post , Mr. Trump dismissed Ms. Abrams while claiming responsibility for her defeat in the 2018 Georgia governor 's race .
Zerlina Maxwell , a political analyst and former director of progressive media for Hillary Clinton 's 2016 campaign , said this is an opportunity for Mr. Biden to recognize the political force of black women .
`` The Democratic nominee needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment and that they understand that black women are the foundation of a successful Democratic Party at every level , '' Ms. Maxwell said .
Adrianne Shropshire , executive director of Black PAC , said black voters are looking for `` authenticity . ''
`` When folks have talked to us about what they want in a candidate , it is someone who can relate to them , '' Ms. Shropshire said , noting the coronavirus ' disparate impact on black Americans .
But she said that does n't mean that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black woman .
`` Having a black running mate checks that box for a lot of people , but I would also say in the same way that black voters were n't simply during the primary contest saying , 'Who 's the black candidate ? '
I do n't think black voters are doing that for the vice presidential choice either , '' she said , later adding the bottom line : `` Ultimately , people want to win . ''
Tharon Johnson , a prominent black strategist who worked for Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's focus should be on `` energy , '' not necessarily on race .
`` I am totally , 100 % behind the narrative that it 's time for a black woman on the ticket , '' Mr. Johnson said .
`` But he has to consider a lot of metrics .
Who can he bring on that will increase enthusiasm and drive turnout in those states that matter most in November ?
And what characteristics are there that will bring that excitement ? ''
Mr. Biden 's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional Black Caucus chairman , is a forceful advocate for African Americans within Democratic politics .
But he 's also absolute in his assertion that Mr. Biden can not be forced to check a demographic box .
`` I 'm not sure that the VP is going to throw names out there just to appease people , '' Mr. Richmond said .
Symone Sanders is the highest-ranking black woman on Mr. Biden 's staff and played a key role in shoring up Mr. Biden 's campaign in South Carolina .
But he also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him of the complicated calculations in putting together a winning coalition .
Kenneth Walden , the black man who lives in the battleground state of North Carolina , said the pick must be a black woman .
`` And if not , I believe that it would be a repeat of 2016 , where we had an all-white ticket and everybody was not energized , '' said Mr. Walden , who works in telecommunications and on a YouTube show .
`` Black people are going to feel betrayed .
We 're not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Cierra Conerly , an entrepreneur and small-business owner , said she 's torn about whom she wants to see on the ticket , but she said it needs to be someone who can identify strongly with diverse groups .
`` I 'm African American , I 'm a woman , I 'm a business owner and I 'm also LGBTQ '' said Ms. Conerly , who lives in Arizona , another state Democrats hope to flip .
`` All of those aspects are really important and I want someone who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those . ''
Taylor Harrell , the political director for Mothering Justice , a nonprofit that advocates for mothers , said Mr. Biden 's choice should n't be all that complicated : Choose a black woman .
`` It 's become a cute catchphrase to say 'trust black women ' or that black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party , so if we 're truly the backbone , being the backbone should essentially mean being the vice president , '' Ms. Harrell , a Detroit resident , said .
`` White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long and having a black woman will allow us to feel like our voices are going to continue to be heard after they 've been put on pause for these past four years . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mr. Barrow reported from Atlanta .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus

After a devastating start to the Democratic primary, Joe Biden's campaign was revived when black voters in South Carolina and throughout the South overwhelmingly sided with him. Now that he's the presumptive Democratic nominee, black voters and leaders are pressing for him to pick a black woman as his running mate.
Mr. Biden launched a committee last week to begin vetting possible candidates for the vice presidency, a process he has said will likely last through July. He has already committed to picking a woman.
But black voters and leaders say he needs to go further and pick a black woman. They argue that Mr. Biden's success – and that of the Democratic Party as a whole – depends on black people turning out to vote in November. They want a tangible return for their loyalty, not just a thank you for showing up on Election Day.
"Black people want an acknowledgement of the many years of support they have given the Democratic Party," said Niambi Carter, a Howard University political science professor.
House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, whose endorsement in South Carolina was widely credited with helping widen Mr. Biden's winning margin and start his avalanche of March primary victories, said "clearly" he would prefer a black woman. But he insisted he's not pushing Mr. Biden in that direction.
"I'm the father of three grown African American women. So naturally I prefer an African American woman, but it doesn't have to be," Mr. Clyburn said. "I've made that very clear."
Mr. Biden has been unusually vocal about the people he would consider as running mates. He's referenced two black women, Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia. Other black women, including Rep. Val Demings of Florida and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, have also been mentioned.
But Mr. Biden is also thought to be considering several white women, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
President Donald Trump said his November opponent owes the spot to Ms. Warren, theorizing that Sen. Bernie Sanders "would have won every single state on Super Tuesday" if Ms. Warren had dropped out of the primary race earlier.
In an interview on Monday with the New York Post, Mr. Trump dismissed Ms. Abrams while claiming responsibility for her defeat in the 2018 Georgia governor's race.
Zerlina Maxwell, a political analyst and former director of progressive media for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, said this is an opportunity for Mr. Biden to recognize the political force of black women.
"The Democratic nominee needs to make it completely clear that they understand the moment and that they understand that black women are the foundation of a successful Democratic Party at every level," Ms. Maxwell said.
Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of Black PAC, said black voters are looking for "authenticity."
"When folks have talked to us about what they want in a candidate, it is someone who can relate to them," Ms. Shropshire said, noting the coronavirus' disparate impact on black Americans.
But she said that doesn't mean that a vice presidential nominee has to be a black woman.
"Having a black running mate checks that box for a lot of people, but I would also say in the same way that black voters weren't simply during the primary contest saying, 'Who's the black candidate?' I don't think black voters are doing that for the vice presidential choice either," she said, later adding the bottom line: "Ultimately, people want to win."
Tharon Johnson, a prominent black strategist who worked for Barack Obama's two presidential campaigns, said Mr. Biden's focus should be on "energy," not necessarily on race.
"I am totally, 100% behind the narrative that it's time for a black woman on the ticket," Mr. Johnson said. "But he has to consider a lot of metrics. Who can he bring on that will increase enthusiasm and drive turnout in those states that matter most in November? And what characteristics are there that will bring that excitement?"
Mr. Biden's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman, is a forceful advocate for African Americans within Democratic politics. But he's also absolute in his assertion that Mr. Biden cannot be forced to check a demographic box.
"I'm not sure that the VP is going to throw names out there just to appease people," Mr. Richmond said.
Symone Sanders is the highest-ranking black woman on Mr. Biden's staff and played a key role in shoring up Mr. Biden's campaign in South Carolina. But he also has an older cadre of advisers reminding him of the complicated calculations in putting together a winning coalition.
Kenneth Walden, the black man who lives in the battleground state of North Carolina, said the pick must be a black woman.
"And if not, I believe that it would be a repeat of 2016, where we had an all-white ticket and everybody was not energized," said Mr. Walden, who works in telecommunications and on a YouTube show. "Black people are going to feel betrayed. We're not just voting based off just party lines anymore."
Cierra Conerly, an entrepreneur and small-business owner, said she's torn about whom she wants to see on the ticket, but she said it needs to be someone who can identify strongly with diverse groups.
"I'm African American, I'm a woman, I'm a business owner and I'm also LGBTQ" said Ms. Conerly, who lives in Arizona, another state Democrats hope to flip. "All of those aspects are really important and I want someone who is going to be able to speak to those."
Taylor Harrell, the political director for Mothering Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for mothers, said Mr. Biden's choice shouldn't be all that complicated: Choose a black woman.
"It's become a cute catchphrase to say 'trust black women' or that black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, so if we're truly the backbone, being the backbone should essentially mean being the vice president," Ms. Harrell, a Detroit resident, said. "White people have had a voice for so long and having a black woman will allow us to feel like our voices are going to continue to be heard after they've been put on pause for these past four years."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Barrow reported from Atlanta.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus


csmonitor--2020-05-07--CDC writes guide to reopen America, but Trump shelves it

A set of detailed documents created by the nation 's top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places such as mass transit , day care centers , and restaurants during the still-raging pandemic has been shelved by the Trump administration .
The 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team , titled `` Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework , '' was researched and written to help faith leaders , business owners , educators , and state and local officials as they begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be published last Friday , but agency scientists were told the guidance `` would never see the light of day , '' according to a CDC official .
The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity .
The AP obtained a copy from a second federal official who was not authorized to release it .
The guidance was described in AP stories last week , prior to the White House decision to shelve it .
The Trump administration has been closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic spurred by the novel coronavirus that scientists are still trying to understand , with the president himself leading freewheeling daily briefings until last week .
Traditionally , it 's been the CDC 's role to give the public and local officials guidance and science-based information during public health crises .
During this one , however , the CDC has not had a regular , pandemic-related news briefing in nearly two months .
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has been a member of the White House coronavirus task force , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dearth of real-time , public information from the nation 's experts has struck many current and former government health officials as dangerous .
`` CDC has always been the public health agency Americans turn to in a time of crisis , '' said Dr. Howard Koh , a Harvard professor and former health official in the Obama administration during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009 .
`` The standard in a crisis is to turn to them for the latest data and latest guidance and the latest press briefing .
That has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Trump administration has instead sought to put the onus on states to handle COVID-19 response .
This approach to managing the pandemic has been reflected in President Donald Trump 's public statements , from the assertion that he is n't responsible for the country 's lackluster early testing efforts , to his description last week of the federal government 's role as a `` supplier of last resort '' for states in need of testing aid .
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany echoed that at a briefing on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as I said , it 's [ a ] governor-led effort .
It 's a state-led effort on ... which the federal government will consult .
And we do so each and every day . ''
The rejected reopening guidance was described by one of the federal officials as a touchstone document that was to be used as a blueprint for other groups inside the CDC who are creating the same type of instructional materials for other facilities .
The guidance contained detailed advice for making site-specific decisions related to reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches , day care centers , and other institutions .
It had been widely shared within CDC , and included detailed `` decision trees , '' flow charts to be used by local officials to think through different scenarios .
One page of the document can be found on the CDC website via search engines , but it did not appear to be linked to any other CDC pages .
Some of the report 's suggestions already appear on federal websites .
But the guidance offered specific , tailored recommendations for reopening in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report suggested restaurants and bars should install sneeze guards at cash registers and avoid having buffets , salad bars , and drink stations .
Similar tips appear on the CDC 's site and a Food and Drug Administration page .
But the shelved report also said that as restaurants start seating diners again , they should space tables at least 6 feet apart and try to use phone app technology to alert a patron when their table is ready to avoid touching and use of `` buzzers . ''
That 's not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can say that restaurants can open and you need to follow social distancing guidelines .
But restaurants want to know , 'What does that look like ? '
States would like more guidance , '' said Dr. Marcus Plescia , chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials .
The White House 's own `` Opening Up America Again '' guidelines released last month were more vague than the CDC 's unpublished report .
They instructed state and local governments to reopen in accordance with federal and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to monitor employees for symptoms of COVID-19 .
The White House guidance also included advice developed earlier in the pandemic that remains important like social distancing and encouraging working from home .
A person close to the White House 's coronavirus task force said the CDC documents were never cleared by CDC leadership for public release .
The person said that White House officials do n't want to offer detailed guidance for how specific sectors can reopen , calling it a `` slippery slope '' because the virus is affecting various parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily from state and county health departments looking for scientifically valid information with which to make informed decisions .
Still , behind the scenes , CDC scientists like those who produced the guidance for `` Opening Up America Again '' are working to get information to local governments .
The agency still employs hundreds of the world 's most respected epidemiologists and doctors , who in times of crisis are looked to for their expertise , said former CDC director Tom Frieden .
People have clicked on the CDC 's coronavirus website more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly reach out to the CDC can tap guidance that 's been prepared , but that the White House has not released yet .
`` I do n't think that any state feels that the CDC is deficient .
It 's just the process of getting stuff out , '' Mr. Plescia said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mr. Stobbe reported from New York .
AP writers Darlene Superville and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A set of detailed documents created by the nation's top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places such as mass transit, day care centers, and restaurants during the still-raging pandemic has been shelved by the Trump administration.
The 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team, titled "Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework," was researched and written to help faith leaders, business owners, educators, and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.
It was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told the guidance "would never see the light of day," according to a CDC official. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
The AP obtained a copy from a second federal official who was not authorized to release it. The guidance was described in AP stories last week, prior to the White House decision to shelve it.
The Trump administration has been closely controlling the release of guidance and information during the pandemic spurred by the novel coronavirus that scientists are still trying to understand, with the president himself leading freewheeling daily briefings until last week.
Traditionally, it's been the CDC's role to give the public and local officials guidance and science-based information during public health crises. During this one, however, the CDC has not had a regular, pandemic-related news briefing in nearly two months. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has been a member of the White House coronavirus task force, but largely absent from public appearances.
The dearth of real-time, public information from the nation's experts has struck many current and former government health officials as dangerous.
"CDC has always been the public health agency Americans turn to in a time of crisis," said Dr. Howard Koh, a Harvard professor and former health official in the Obama administration during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009. "The standard in a crisis is to turn to them for the latest data and latest guidance and the latest press briefing. That has not occurred, and everyone sees that."
The Trump administration has instead sought to put the onus on states to handle COVID-19 response. This approach to managing the pandemic has been reflected in President Donald Trump's public statements, from the assertion that he isn't responsible for the country's lackluster early testing efforts, to his description last week of the federal government's role as a "supplier of last resort" for states in need of testing aid.
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany echoed that at a briefing on Wednesday. "We've consulted individually with states, but as I said, it's [a] governor-led effort. It's a state-led effort on ... which the federal government will consult. And we do so each and every day."
The rejected reopening guidance was described by one of the federal officials as a touchstone document that was to be used as a blueprint for other groups inside the CDC who are creating the same type of instructional materials for other facilities.
The guidance contained detailed advice for making site-specific decisions related to reopening schools, restaurants, summer camps, churches, day care centers, and other institutions. It had been widely shared within CDC, and included detailed "decision trees," flow charts to be used by local officials to think through different scenarios. One page of the document can be found on the CDC website via search engines, but it did not appear to be linked to any other CDC pages.
Some of the report's suggestions already appear on federal websites. But the guidance offered specific, tailored recommendations for reopening in one place.
For example, the report suggested restaurants and bars should install sneeze guards at cash registers and avoid having buffets, salad bars, and drink stations. Similar tips appear on the CDC's site and a Food and Drug Administration page.
But the shelved report also said that as restaurants start seating diners again, they should space tables at least 6 feet apart and try to use phone app technology to alert a patron when their table is ready to avoid touching and use of "buzzers." That's not on the CDC's site now.
"You can say that restaurants can open and you need to follow social distancing guidelines. But restaurants want to know, 'What does that look like?' States would like more guidance," said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
The White House's own "Opening Up America Again" guidelines released last month were more vague than the CDC's unpublished report. They instructed state and local governments to reopen in accordance with federal and local "regulations and guidance," and to monitor employees for symptoms of COVID-19. The White House guidance also included advice developed earlier in the pandemic that remains important like social distancing and encouraging working from home.
A person close to the White House's coronavirus task force said the CDC documents were never cleared by CDC leadership for public release. The person said that White House officials don't want to offer detailed guidance for how specific sectors can reopen, calling it a "slippery slope" because the virus is affecting various parts of the country differently.
CDC is hearing daily from state and county health departments looking for scientifically valid information with which to make informed decisions.
Still, behind the scenes, CDC scientists like those who produced the guidance for "Opening Up America Again" are working to get information to local governments. The agency still employs hundreds of the world's most respected epidemiologists and doctors, who in times of crisis are looked to for their expertise, said former CDC director Tom Frieden. People have clicked on the CDC's coronavirus website more than 1.2 billion times.
States that directly reach out to the CDC can tap guidance that's been prepared, but that the White House has not released yet.
"I don't think that any state feels that the CDC is deficient. It's just the process of getting stuff out," Mr. Plescia said.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Stobbe reported from New York. AP writers Darlene Superville and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-08--COVID-19 isn’t partisan. But it’s intensifying America’s red-blue divide.

“ We can ’ t even bring ourselves to accept the same set of facts , and feel compelled to question the motivations of our leaders and of each other , ” says Mo Elleithee , director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and a former Democratic strategist .
Two-thirds of Americans don ’ t think the official U.S. death toll – 76,600 as of Friday – is accurate , according to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll .
But among Democrats , 63 % say it ’ s an undercount , while a plurality of Republicans ( 40 % ) believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect the number is being overstated to hurt President Trump .
At a time when a shared reliance on facts and science is absolutely critical , partisan polarization is splintering a national sense of resolve over how best to combat the virus .
In Texas , the debate over a salon owner jailed for reopening her shop early became so intense that Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick paid her $ 7,000 fine and offered to serve the rest of her sentence under house arrest .
In some circles , wearing a mask is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while going maskless is a sign of “ don ’ t tread on me ” defiance .
Mask or no mask ?
Reopen businesses or keep them closed ?
Trust Dr. Anthony Fauci ’ s expertise – or not so much ?
On question after question , the debates have grown heated .
Even amid a pandemic , when a sense of common purpose and shared values are essential , the nation ’ s red-blue divide seems as sharp as ever .
In some circles , wearing a mask is now seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a sign of “ don ’ t tread on me ” defiance .
In Texas , the debate over a salon owner jailed for reopening her shop early became so intense that Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick paid her $ 7,000 fine and offered to serve the rest of her sentence under house arrest .
Even the widely admired Dr. Fauci , the nation ’ s top epidemiologist , has not escaped the partisan buzzsaw .
True , he enjoys strong support in both parties , but there ’ s still a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval versus 71 % among Republicans , according to Gallup .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Polarization , building for decades , was already intense before COVID-19 .
Now it ’ s on steroids – especially with a presidential election just six months away .
And at a time when a shared reliance on facts and science is absolutely critical , partisanship and a deficit of trust have made fighting the virus all the more challenging .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a growing anti-intellectualism or perhaps populist resentment toward the traditional sources of informational authority – the press , academia , the scientific community , nonpartisan government agencies , ” says David Barker , director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington .
“ We ’ ve gotten to the point , egged on by the president for four years , where maybe one-third of the country just does not trust a single word they hear from any of the traditional sources.
” It must be acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do get it wrong .
The mainstream media make mistakes .
In 2003 , the United States went to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence over weapons of mass destruction .
But each side now has its own sources of information and its own perspective in interpreting that information – coupled with a healthy dose of distrust of the other side .
On COVID-19 , two-thirds of Americans don ’ t think the official U.S. death toll – 76,600 as of Friday – is accurate , and faith in that figure is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll .
But partisans disagree on how it ’ s wrong : Among Democrats , 63 % say it ’ s an undercount , given that some people are dying with COVID-19-like symptoms without being tested .
Among Republicans , on the other hand , a plurality ( 40 % ) says the figure is inflated .
Some Republicans suspect the number is being overstated to hurt President Donald Trump .
“ It just shows how sadly tribal we have become in our politics that we can ’ t even bring ourselves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and feel compelled to question the motivations of our leaders and of each other , ” says Mo Elleithee , director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and a former Democratic strategist .
Newt Gingrich sees a partisan hostility born of “ deep differences in values , worldviews , goals , and definitions of reality , ” the former Republican House speaker writes in an email .
“ The gap is now so large that each group sees its opponents as ‘ the other.
’ ” “ When the governor of Minnesota keeps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is communicating a value set utterly alien to religiously committed people , ” Speaker Gingrich continues .
The rural-urban geographic divide is also shaping perceptions of the crisis , with Democratic-leaning regions hit harder by the virus than Republican-leaning areas .
People who live in cities and suburbs , where population density and demographics have so far produced the highest case loads , are literally experiencing the pandemic differently from those in rural areas .
That could soon shift : Coronavirus cases are now rising at a faster rate in rural America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kaiser Family Foundation .
The spread to rural , redder areas brings its own challenges , given their older populations , more preexisting health conditions , and fewer hospitals .
Rural areas also face economic problems even when the national economy is strong .
Friday ’ s jobs report – 14.7 % of Americans unemployed in April , the highest level since the Great Depression – brought home the shocking economic impact of the virus .
Yet on the question of reopening businesses , partisan differences are again sharp , and vary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some 61 % of Republicans support opening golf courses , while only 30 % of Democrats agree , according to the latest Washington Post-University of Maryland poll .
With barber shops and hair salons , 48 % of Republicans support reopening versus 15 % of Democrats .
Regarding movie theaters , the survey reports 33 % of Republicans support reopening versus 8 % of Democrats .
Then there ’ s the mask question , which has become a flashpoint for partisan sniping .
A majority in both parties say they wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to wear one by a margin of 17 percentage points – 76 % to 59 % .
When Vice President Mike Pence didn ’ t wear a mask on a visit last week to Minnesota ’ s Mayo Clinic , where mask usage is required , liberal outrage ensued .
He said he didn ’ t feel the need to wear one , given he is regularly tested for COVID-19 , but later he said he should have .
President Trump has yet to wear a mask in public .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control changed its guidance and recommended that Americans wear masks when outside the home , the president said he preferred not to .
His actions may have swayed some Americans ’ actions .
An April academic study shows that partisan affiliation – more than age , income , or education level – was a “ huge divider ” in people ’ s reported health behaviors , such as hand-washing and canceled trips , says Shana Kushner Gadarian , political scientist at Syracuse University and co-author of the study .
“ People are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from doctors , and to the extent that those are different , people will turn to their more trusted sources , ” Professor Gadarian says .
In other words , mixed messages – say , on mask-wearing – may be producing a mix of behaviors .
Take Danielle Zaccagnino , a 30-something teacher in suburban Alexandria , Virginia , who says she leans liberal and has largely stayed inside since the virus outbreak started .
When she does go out , she wears an N95 mask .
She avoids the news , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media .
“ The assumption is that liberals are more panicked and conservatives are not , ” Ms. Zaccagnino says .
But “ because I limit my exposure to the conversation , I think that ’ s the main factor in how not panicked I am.
” In contrast , Stephen Hunt , a 50-something project manager in information technology , says he goes out in public all the time and doesn ’ t wear a mask or gloves .
He watches Fox News , and thinks the official death toll from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Hunt , who lives in exurban King George County , Virginia , says he identifies as “ conservative ” more than “ Republican , ” because the party has embraced big government .
Most important , he says , he wants the freedom to make choices for himself and be treated by the government as an individual .
The virus , he says , “ hasn ’ t changed the way we [ he and his wife ] go about our normal day-to-day business at all , other than social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet beneath these apparent divisions , certain bedrock American values are still shining through .
“ There ’ s plenty of evidence that on the ground , at the community level , we actually have become less polarized and have forged strong communities , ” says Mr. Elleithee , former communications director at the Democratic National Committee .
He cites stories of people delivering groceries to elderly neighbors and drives to help keep local businesses afloat .
In late March , the Next Door app added a feature that allows neighbors to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have features that allow people to round up their bill to help those who are struggling financially .
Partisan affiliation doesn ’ t come up .
“ It ’ s happening all over the country , even in polarized communities and swing districts , ” Mr. Elleithee says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“We can’t even bring ourselves to accept the same set of facts, and feel compelled to question the motivations of our leaders and of each other,” says Mo Elleithee, director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and a former Democratic strategist.
Two-thirds of Americans don’t think the official U.S. death toll – 76,600 as of Friday – is accurate, according to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll. But among Democrats, 63% say it’s an undercount, while a plurality of Republicans (40%) believes the figure is inflated. Some Republicans suspect the number is being overstated to hurt President Trump.
At a time when a shared reliance on facts and science is absolutely critical, partisan polarization is splintering a national sense of resolve over how best to combat the virus.
Divided by geography and culture, and relying on different media sources that often emphasize different facts, Americans are experiencing the pandemic through sharply divergent partisan lenses.
In Texas, the debate over a salon owner jailed for reopening her shop early became so intense that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick paid her $7,000 fine and offered to serve the rest of her sentence under house arrest.
In some circles, wearing a mask is now seen as a liberal political statement while going maskless is a sign of “don’t tread on me” defiance.
Mask or no mask? Reopen businesses or keep them closed? Trust Dr. Anthony Fauci’s expertise – or not so much?
On question after question, the debates have grown heated. Even amid a pandemic, when a sense of common purpose and shared values are essential, the nation’s red-blue divide seems as sharp as ever. In some circles, wearing a mask is now seen as a liberal political statement while going maskless is a sign of “don’t tread on me” defiance.
In Texas, the debate over a salon owner jailed for reopening her shop early became so intense that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick paid her $7,000 fine and offered to serve the rest of her sentence under house arrest.
Why We Wrote This Divided by geography and culture, and relying on different media sources that often emphasize different facts, Americans are experiencing the pandemic through sharply divergent partisan lenses.
Even the widely admired Dr. Fauci, the nation’s top epidemiologist, has not escaped the partisan buzzsaw. True, he enjoys strong support in both parties, but there’s still a 17-point partisan gap: 88% Democratic approval versus 71% among Republicans, according to Gallup.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Polarization, building for decades, was already intense before COVID-19. Now it’s on steroids – especially with a presidential election just six months away. And at a time when a shared reliance on facts and science is absolutely critical, partisanship and a deficit of trust have made fighting the virus all the more challenging.
“For 40 years, there’s been a growing anti-intellectualism or perhaps populist resentment toward the traditional sources of informational authority – the press, academia, the scientific community, nonpartisan government agencies,” says David Barker, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington. “We’ve gotten to the point, egged on by the president for four years, where maybe one-third of the country just does not trust a single word they hear from any of the traditional sources.”
It must be acknowledged that the “traditional sources” sometimes do get it wrong. The mainstream media make mistakes. In 2003, the United States went to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence over weapons of mass destruction.
But each side now has its own sources of information and its own perspective in interpreting that information – coupled with a healthy dose of distrust of the other side.
On COVID-19, two-thirds of Americans don’t think the official U.S. death toll – 76,600 as of Friday – is accurate, and faith in that figure is declining, according to the latest Axios-Ipsos poll. But partisans disagree on how it’s wrong: Among Democrats, 63% say it’s an undercount, given that some people are dying with COVID-19-like symptoms without being tested. Among Republicans, on the other hand, a plurality (40%) says the figure is inflated. Some Republicans suspect the number is being overstated to hurt President Donald Trump.
“It just shows how sadly tribal we have become in our politics that we can’t even bring ourselves to accept the same set of facts, and feel compelled to question the motivations of our leaders and of each other,” says Mo Elleithee, director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service and a former Democratic strategist.
Newt Gingrich sees a partisan hostility born of “deep differences in values, worldviews, goals, and definitions of reality,” the former Republican House speaker writes in an email. “The gap is now so large that each group sees its opponents as ‘the other.’”
“When the governor of Minnesota keeps open Planned Parenthood but closes churches, he is communicating a value set utterly alien to religiously committed people,” Speaker Gingrich continues.
The rural-urban geographic divide is also shaping perceptions of the crisis, with Democratic-leaning regions hit harder by the virus than Republican-leaning areas. People who live in cities and suburbs, where population density and demographics have so far produced the highest case loads, are literally experiencing the pandemic differently from those in rural areas.
That could soon shift: Coronavirus cases are now rising at a faster rate in rural America than in metropolitan areas, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The spread to rural, redder areas brings its own challenges, given their older populations, more preexisting health conditions, and fewer hospitals. Rural areas also face economic problems even when the national economy is strong.
Friday’s jobs report – 14.7% of Americans unemployed in April, the highest level since the Great Depression – brought home the shocking economic impact of the virus.
Yet on the question of reopening businesses, partisan differences are again sharp, and vary depending on the type of business. Some 61% of Republicans support opening golf courses, while only 30% of Democrats agree, according to the latest Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.
With barber shops and hair salons, 48% of Republicans support reopening versus 15% of Democrats. Regarding movie theaters, the survey reports 33% of Republicans support reopening versus 8% of Democrats.
Then there’s the mask question, which has become a flashpoint for partisan sniping. A majority in both parties say they wear a mask when leaving home, but Democrats are more likely to wear one by a margin of 17 percentage points – 76% to 59%.
When Vice President Mike Pence didn’t wear a mask on a visit last week to Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic, where mask usage is required, liberal outrage ensued. He said he didn’t feel the need to wear one, given he is regularly tested for COVID-19, but later he said he should have.
President Trump has yet to wear a mask in public. On April 3, when the Centers for Disease Control changed its guidance and recommended that Americans wear masks when outside the home, the president said he preferred not to.
His actions may have swayed some Americans’ actions. A March academic study shows that partisan affiliation – more than age, income, or education level – was a “huge divider” in people’s reported health behaviors, such as hand-washing and canceled trips, says Shana Kushner Gadarian, political scientist at Syracuse University and co-author of the study.
“People are taking their cues from political leadership and from doctors, and to the extent that those are different, people will turn to their more trusted sources,” Professor Gadarian says.
In other words, mixed messages – say, on mask-wearing – may be producing a mix of behaviors.
Take Danielle Zaccagnino, a 30-something teacher in suburban Alexandria, Virginia, who says she leans liberal and has largely stayed inside since the virus outbreak started. When she does go out, she wears an N95 mask. She avoids the news, and keeps up with events via friends and social media.
“The assumption is that liberals are more panicked and conservatives are not,” Ms. Zaccagnino says. But “because I limit my exposure to the conversation, I think that’s the main factor in how not panicked I am.”
In contrast, Stephen Hunt, a 50-something project manager in information technology, says he goes out in public all the time and doesn’t wear a mask or gloves. He watches Fox News, and thinks the official death toll from COVID-19 is “probably too high.”
Mr. Hunt, who lives in exurban King George County, Virginia, says he identifies as “conservative” more than “Republican,” because the party has embraced big government. Most important, he says, he wants the freedom to make choices for himself and be treated by the government as an individual.
The virus, he says, “hasn’t changed the way we [he and his wife] go about our normal day-to-day business at all, other than social distancing, which we abide by of course.”
Yet beneath these apparent divisions, certain bedrock American values are still shining through.
“There’s plenty of evidence that on the ground, at the community level, we actually have become less polarized and have forged strong communities,” says Mr. Elleithee, former communications director at the Democratic National Committee.
He cites stories of people delivering groceries to elderly neighbors and drives to help keep local businesses afloat.
In late March, the Next Door app added a feature that allows neighbors to help neighbors during the pandemic. Utility companies have features that allow people to round up their bill to help those who are struggling financially. Partisan affiliation doesn’t come up.
“It’s happening all over the country, even in polarized communities and swing districts,” Mr. Elleithee says.
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Staff writer Noah Robertson contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-05-11--Poll: Most Americans disapprove of anti-lockdown protests

A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus , according to a new poll that also finds the still-expansive support for such limits – including restaurant closures and stay-at-home orders – has dipped in recent weeks .
The new survey from the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 55 % of Americans disapprove of the protests that have popped up in some states as some Americans begin chafing at public health measures that have decimated the global economy .
Thirty-one percent approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner Shelley Luther was sentenced to seven days in jail last week after refusing to apologize to a judge for opening her salon in defiance of Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott 's emergency orders .
She was released less than 48 hours later after Governor Abbott removed jail as a punishment for defying virus safeguards .
In Michigan , thousands of people rallied outside the state capitol last month to protest Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer 's restrictions .
Hundreds returned two weeks later , some of them armed , to demonstrate inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Republicans to disapprove of such protests , 67 % to 51 % .
Thirty-two percent of Republicans and 25 % of Democrats say they approve .
Only 8 % said public protests , marches , and rallies should be unrestricted during the outbreak ; while 41 % think they should be allowed only with restrictions and 50 % think they should not be allowed at all .
Dee Miner of Fremont , California , said she disapproves of the protests , but also feels people have the right to express themselves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protest , but I have to tell you , seeing those people with those weapons at the statehouse in Michigan was pretty disturbing , '' said Ms .
Miner , a Democrat and retired dental office manager .
`` I felt sorry for the legislators having to work with that angry mob in the lobby .
It seemed like it was just pure intimidation . ''
Adam Blann of Carson City , Nevada , said he does not personally favor the protests , but does not believe they should be restricted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Mr. Blann , a Republican-leaning voter who works in the natural gas industry .
`` But I also think that one of the reasons we live in a great country is that we have freedom of expression , freedom of speech , freedom to protest . ''
As some states have begun to slowly ease restrictions on businesses and individuals , the poll finds that 71 % of Americans favor requiring people to stay in their homes except for essential errands .
Support for such measures is down slightly from 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 67 % of Americans now say they favor requiring bars and restaurants to close , down from 76 % in the earlier poll .
The poll also suggested dipping support for requiring Americans to limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer ( from 82 % to 75 % ) and requiring postponement of nonessential medical care ( from 68 % to 57 % ) .
Mark Roberts , a retired transportation worker in Abingdon , Virginia , said he 's going about his business despite Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam 's stay-at-home order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southwestern Virginia community are driving the short distance into neighboring Bristol , Tennessee , to patronize restaurants open there .
`` People from Virginia have been crossing over into Tennessee to eat and just get out , you know , and do things , and Virginia is losing out on it , '' said the Republican .
Among Republicans like Mr. Roberts , the share supporting stay-at-home orders dipped from 70 % in late April to 57 % in the latest poll .
The share supporting other measures also dropped , from 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to no more than 10 people and from 70 % to 53 % for closing bars and restaurants .
Among Democrats , 84 % favor stay-at-home orders , down slightly from 91 % in the earlier poll .
Eighty-seven percent of Democrats favor barring gatherings of more than 10 people , and 79 % support bar and restaurant closures , about the same as in the previous poll .
Mr. Blann , the Nevada resident , said he did n't mind officials imposing certain restrictions for a short period of time , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roll back some of their newly declared powers .
`` I do think the government should respond to allowing people to make more of their own personal choices without legal repercussions , '' said Mr. Blann , who said he does n't expect to find himself in a crowded bar anytime soon , but is looking forward to being able to go back to church .
The poll found most Americans in favor of some kind of restriction on in-person worship , with 42 % saying that should be allowed with restriction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed at all .
Marilou Grainger , a retired nurse anesthetist and registered Republican in Washington , Missouri , said she 's torn between the need to take precautions against the virus while also allowing people to make their own decisions .
`` I think we should still be under a bit of quarantine , especially people who are 60 or older , '' said Grainger , who believes the jury is still out on whether lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have been effective in stemming the spread of the virus .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we totally annihilate our economy , or did we actually save some people issuing this quarantine ? ''
she asked .
The AP-NORC poll of 1,002 adults was conducted April 30-May 4 using a sample drawn from NORC 's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel , which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population .
The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s free .

A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, according to a new poll that also finds the still-expansive support for such limits – including restaurant closures and stay-at-home orders – has dipped in recent weeks.
The new survey from the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 55% of Americans disapprove of the protests that have popped up in some states as some Americans begin chafing at public health measures that have decimated the global economy. Thirty-one percent approve of the demonstrations.
Texas hair salon owner Shelley Luther was sentenced to seven days in jail last week after refusing to apologize to a judge for opening her salon in defiance of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency orders. She was released less than 48 hours later after Governor Abbott removed jail as a punishment for defying virus safeguards.
In Michigan, thousands of people rallied outside the state capitol last month to protest Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's restrictions. Hundreds returned two weeks later, some of them armed, to demonstrate inside the statehouse.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to disapprove of such protests, 67% to 51%. Thirty-two percent of Republicans and 25% of Democrats say they approve. Only 8% said public protests, marches, and rallies should be unrestricted during the outbreak; while 41% think they should be allowed only with restrictions and 50% think they should not be allowed at all.
AP
Dee Miner of Fremont, California, said she disapproves of the protests, but also feels people have the right to express themselves.
"We have to have the right to protest, but I have to tell you, seeing those people with those weapons at the statehouse in Michigan was pretty disturbing," said Ms. Miner, a Democrat and retired dental office manager. "I felt sorry for the legislators having to work with that angry mob in the lobby. It seemed like it was just pure intimidation."
Adam Blann of Carson City, Nevada, said he does not personally favor the protests, but does not believe they should be restricted.
"It's a tough situation," said Mr. Blann, a Republican-leaning voter who works in the natural gas industry. "But I also think that one of the reasons we live in a great country is that we have freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom to protest."
As some states have begun to slowly ease restrictions on businesses and individuals, the poll finds that 71% of Americans favor requiring people to stay in their homes except for essential errands. Support for such measures is down slightly from 80% two weeks earlier.
Similarly, 67% of Americans now say they favor requiring bars and restaurants to close, down from 76% in the earlier poll. The poll also suggested dipping support for requiring Americans to limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer (from 82% to 75%) and requiring postponement of nonessential medical care (from 68% to 57%).
Mark Roberts, a retired transportation worker in Abingdon, Virginia, said he's going about his business despite Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam's stay-at-home order. Mr. Roberts said people in his southwestern Virginia community are driving the short distance into neighboring Bristol, Tennessee, to patronize restaurants open there.
"People from Virginia have been crossing over into Tennessee to eat and just get out, you know, and do things, and Virginia is losing out on it," said the Republican.
Among Republicans like Mr. Roberts, the share supporting stay-at-home orders dipped from 70% in late April to 57% in the latest poll. The share supporting other measures also dropped, from 75% to 63% for limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people and from 70% to 53% for closing bars and restaurants.
Among Democrats, 84% favor stay-at-home orders, down slightly from 91% in the earlier poll. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats favor barring gatherings of more than 10 people, and 79% support bar and restaurant closures, about the same as in the previous poll.
Mr. Blann, the Nevada resident, said he didn't mind officials imposing certain restrictions for a short period of time, but fears the potential of authorities being unwilling to roll back some of their newly declared powers.
"I do think the government should respond to allowing people to make more of their own personal choices without legal repercussions," said Mr. Blann, who said he doesn't expect to find himself in a crowded bar anytime soon, but is looking forward to being able to go back to church.
The poll found most Americans in favor of some kind of restriction on in-person worship, with 42% saying that should be allowed with restriction and 48% that it should not be allowed at all.
Marilou Grainger, a retired nurse anesthetist and registered Republican in Washington, Missouri, said she's torn between the need to take precautions against the virus while also allowing people to make their own decisions.
"I think we should still be under a bit of quarantine, especially people who are 60 or older," said Grainger, who believes the jury is still out on whether lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have been effective in stemming the spread of the virus.
"Did we make a mistake? Did we totally annihilate our economy, or did we actually save some people issuing this quarantine?" she asked.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,002 adults was conducted April 30-May 4 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.