Ward Law LLC is dedicated to keeping our clients informed about all things COVID-19 related. Our business is to ensure that you have all the information you need to keep your business going. In that regard, please read below for a COVID-19 update.
Finally, a Good Sign… Maybe
So far during this pandemic, we have been faced with bad news, grim new, and news that rose all the way to “meh.” Numbers of COVID-19 infections have continued to rise exponentially, and different parts of the country are predicted to experience different timeframes for the peak of this crisis. The most devastating of the effects have been the number of deaths associated with the disease, which continue to rise. Now, all 50 states have experienced at least one death from the coronavirus. While the overall percentages may seem low to some, the fact is that there have been several thousand lives cut short and, despite the belief of an uninformed minority, even young, healthy individuals have perished. We all wait for something positive to brighten our days, other than all of the memes circulating every day, of course.
Thankfully, there may be a light in the distance. Governors in several northeastern states as well as, separately, governors of three west coast states have taken the first tentative step toward reopening their economies. The governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have formed a coalition to develop strategies for reopening. This is an important first step in getting businesses back on their feet and returning to some semblance of normalcy. The regional panel is tasked with formulating a strategy for gradual lifting of restrictions put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus, which included the closing of non-essential businesses and prohibitions on public gatherings. The panel is made up of economic and health officials from each state as well as the chief of staff for all the governors. There have been no details on a plan just yet. However, the crux of the strategy will be to develop a timeframe and logistics for reopening businesses and scaling back stay at home orders.
The governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced similar plans. While each state is working on its own plan, the coalition will work together to coordinate, but will be putting their residents’ health first and foremost.
It is impossible to speculate on what type of timeframe we are facing. It does seem that there are signed that the mitigation measures are working. For instance, this past Sunday, the nation saw the fewest number of deaths being reported in a single day since April 6th. One governor noted that the plan and implementation will be forthcoming in the next several weeks. While certainly not a quick turnaround, at this point we all realize that this is a marathon and not a sprint. We all have our fingers crossed that we are moving forward sooner rather than later, and that the timeframe does not change from “the next several weeks” to “the next several months.”
For any questions about the “new normal” in the Covid-19 era, please email the Ward Law helpline any time at covid19helpline@thewardlaw.com.