As the United States goes through the deadliest phase until the time of the coronavirus pandemic, governors and local officials in heavily affected parts of the country show little willingness to impose new restrictions on business to contain the spread.
And unlike 2020, when the debate over the forties often divided parties, now both Democrats and Republicans point to their opposition to forced closures and other measures.
Some have expressed fears that the severe economic damage caused by the crisis will worsen. Others notice little patience among the electorate to impose more restrictions on them 10 months after the crisis began.
And some more seem to be more focused on the distribution of vaccines, which would eventually end the threat.
The most notable change of tone was that of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, who imposed a severe quarantine last spring, when the state became the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States.
“We just can’t stay closed until the vaccine gets too critical. The cost is too high. We won’t have anything left to open,” Cuomo said this week when it was confirmed that infections in the state rose to an average. of 16,000 per day and the deaths reached approximately 170 daily.
Theaters remain closed and cannot be eaten inside restaurants in New York City, but Cuomo said Tuesday that if a system of rapid virus testing could be developed, it would allow those sectors to return more safely.
In Arizona, where the pandemic is wreaking havoc, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has been steadfast in his opposition to statewide mandatory mask use or the closure of bars, gyms and restaurants, despite repeated requests from executives. hospitals to take them.
“If we’re all together on this, then we need to understand that for many families, quarantine doesn’t mean inconvenience; it means catastrophe,” Ducey said.
Governors in other critical places, such as Texas, have expressed similar views, while other states relax restrictions even when the death toll in the United States is close to 380,000 and cases exceed 22.7 million. The national average death toll is above 3,200.
Minnesota once again allowed people to eat at restaurants starting this week, and Michigan will do the same on Friday. Nevada rules expire Friday.
Even in states with stricter measures in place, such as California, people disobey the rules.
On Monday, when intensive care units in Southern California were crowded with patients, people filled the beaches of San Diego to see this week’s high swell, many less than 1.8 meters (6 feet) from distance between them and without masks.
Other Americans have also ignored the rules. U.S. tourists spent Christmas and New Year on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, while thousands of football fans at the University of Alabama filled bars Monday night to celebrate the national championship.
More than 9.3 million Americans have received the first dose of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a slow distribution for a campaign that will likely inoculate 85% of the population , or about 300 million people, to beat the virus.
On Tuesday, the government of President Donald Trump announced plans to speed up vaccination by distributing nearly twice as many vaccines, rather than keeping large amounts in reserve to ensure people receive the second dose on time.
The practice of storing doses was due to fears that there would be delays in production, but officials say they are now confident that there will be supplies.