NEW YORK (Reuters) – Seven Northeastern states on Thursday extended a shutdown until May 15 to contain the coronavirus pandemic, even as President Donald Trump prepared to unveil recommendations to begin easing the lockdown in the least-affected U.S. states, possibly as early as May 1.
The White House said Trump would hold a news conference at 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT) to “explain the guidelines for opening up America again.” The Republican president, who has staked his re-election in November on the strength of the U.S. economy, has stressed the urgency of an early, phased opening to reverse the sudden economic devastation caused by the shutdown.
But his May 1 target date has raised concerns about the dangers of lifting restrictions before widespread testing and proper protocols have been put in place.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo preempted Trump’s briefing by saying on Thursday morning that he would extend his stay-at-home order by another two weeks in cooperation with six neighboring states that have formed a regional alliance. He ordered the extension even though key metrics such as hospitalizations were pointing to a stabilization in the outbreak in New York state.
Last week, Los Angeles extended its restrictions to May 15, and the District of Columbia did the same on Wednesday.
“What happens after that, I don’t know – we will see, depending on what the data says,” Cuomo, whose state is the hardest hit in the United States with more than 40% of the country’s 32,000 dead, told a news briefing.
In addition to the seven-state East Coast coalition, three governors from the West Coast have vowed to work together on a reopening in their region and seven in the Midwest on Thursday announced a similar alliance.
The restrictions have strangl