11/14/2020

To Shut Down or not Shut Down?

Officials implement new restrictions as COVID cases skyrocket, but face backlash

With the coronavirus raging out of control and hospitals nearing capacity, state and local leaders are facing once more the gut-wrenching decision of whether to order shutdowns.

But many are finding the call much harder to make this time — eight months after cities and states last implemented weeks-long shutdowns — amid angry backlashes, deeply polarized constituents and dire economic consequences.

Chicago was the first major city to announce, on Thursday, a reinstatement of stay-at-home advisory. On Friday, New Mexico followed suit with the country’s most restrictive statewide measures since the fall surge began. Oregon also announced a partial shutdown Friday, closing gyms and dine-in restaurants and mandating a six-person limit on all social gatherings. The moves come as the United States reported more than 177,000 new coronavirus cases Friday, a record high for the third straight day.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.