Dr. Fauci Recommends Every State Issue Stay At Home Orders
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has suggested that every state in the country issue a Shelter In Place order. This came during a CNN town hall with Anderson Cooper.
"I don't understand why that's not happening," Fauci told CNN in regards to states not issuing any major policies. 40 states and Washington D.C. have implemented a sta-at-home order of some kind, but that still leaves Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. "You know, the tension between federally mandated versus states' rights to do what they want is something I don't want to get into," he said. "But if you look at what's going on in this country, I just don't understand why we're not doing that."
Several Governors have echoed similar sentiments. "That's why I think it's important that we governors are leading and showing the way and being aggressive. I'm grateful that I have great, you know, colleagues here in the Midwest in particular. We've been pretty aggressive as a geography, and I think that's important," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in an interview with CNN.
Additionally, California Governor Gavin Newsom shared similar thoughts, albeit more aggressively. "Our message is this: 'What are you waiting for?' " Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper. "What more evidence do you need? If you think it's not going to happen to you, there are many proof points all across this country; for that matter, around the rest of the world."
As for a federal response, the White House has issued guidelines for when to stay at home, especially if you feel sick. It also suggests that you should work from home if you can, to avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more people, and to avoid unnecessary travel. It also recommends to not visit hospitals and nursing homes, avoiding eating at restaurants and bars, and to practice good personal hygiene. It does not, however, make any official mandates to do so. So far, that has remained a state-by-state decision.