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KN95 Masks could be key for Governors to help REOPEN America
Trump eager to 'reopen' nation but governors will decide when to ease coronavirus lockdown
April 12, 200 USA TODAY: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/12/coronavirus-trump-eager-reopen-nation-but-governors-decide/2978178001/
Article excerpt:
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is eager to reopen the nation and claims to have "absolute authority" to do so, but experts say the decision on when Americans can ditch coronavirus distancing and return to normal will ultimately be made by governors.
Trump is set to announce a new task force Tuesday that will focus solely on whether the administration should extend federal social distancing guidelines past May 1 or attempt to reopen parts of the country to blunt the economic consequences of the pandemic.
As U.S. unemployment claims soar because of the coronavirus, the president has indicated a desire to ease guidelines in less hard hit states. He has acknowledged he must balance that goal against fears of reigniting hot spots or creating new ones.
"I'm going to have to make a decision, and I only hope to God that it's the right decision," Trump said Friday at the White House. "It's the biggest decision I've ever had to make."
GREENandSAVE Insight:
Our editorial staff fully understands the economic need to reopen America, while balancing the risk of reopening the Pandora's Box of COVID-19. Hopefully, the US federal government will work hand in hand with Governors and Mayors to identify different areas of safety vs risk. Perhaps a color-coded map by county would be prudent to “phase into” reopening some areas sooner than other, while continuing to rigorously keep testing along the way. The decision should not be binary to open vs not open America. The decision should be phased based on data available at a daily and weekly level. Many undertakings from the private sector like the Purge Virus KN95 Mask initiative will most likely be key for a successful reopening. Certified masks can help reduce the spread and the risk of a COVID-19 resurgence. Mayors, Governors, and CEOs need to get ahead of the timeline and plan for May and June as soon as possible. The cost of bringing the recent FDA approved KN95 masks from China by air freight is far higher than by cargo ship. 40 foot shipping containers can each hold about 460,000 KN95 masks or about 1.8 million surgical masks, which are thinner and typically 3 ply vs 6 ply. Regardless of the mask type, the challenge is time, since the overseas journey is about four weeks. We were late in America to start social distancing and we should avoid being late to have masks at hand to reopen parts of America in May, 2020.
