Coronavirus in the United States: Trump turns and renounces placing New York in quarantine

It only took a few hours to do a flip-flop ... Donald Trump finally announced on Saturday March 28 that he would give up quarantining the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, after having raised this possibility earlier today and caused a stir in the region.

While he is widely criticized for the slow response to the coronavirus, the President of the United States said he had asked the National Health Authority's Center for Disease Control (CDC) to disseminate a "firm" notice dissuading movements to enter or leave these states, without closing their borders.

"The CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to avoid non-essential travel (to the country) for the next 14 days with immediate effect," the center said in a short statement released shortly. later Saturday.

By reversing, Donald Trump closed a parenthesis that he himself had opened in the middle of the day, when he had raised the possibility of quarantining New York State, while remaining elusive on the exact scope of this measurement.

The United States, which has been hit hard by the Covid-19, now has more than 124,000 confirmed cases and 2,185 deaths, including 672 in New York City alone.

"Some people would like New York to be quarantined because it is a hot spot," the president said when leaving the White House.

I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “hot spots”, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.

New York State is by far the most affected by coronavirus in the United States, with 52,318 cases and 728 deaths.

"New York, New Jersey, maybe one or two other places, some parts of Connecticut, I'm thinking about it," he added, while many jurists questioned the possibility even for the American president of impose such a measure.

The objective? "Limit travel," he replied. "They have problems in Florida, a lot of New Yorkers are moving south. We don't want that."

"A declaration of war against the States"

"It would be for a short time," he said, adding that he had a very good dialogue with New York State governor Andrew Cuomo.

These announcements had aroused great emotion in the New York region, whose political leaders had been taken by surprise.

Asked about the possibility of a closure of the state borders decided by Washington, Governor Cuomo had warned on CNN that it was, according to him, an "illegal" decision, akin to "a declaration of war against the States" of the Union.

"I think it would cripple the economy," he added. "It would shock the markets of unprecedented scale. As governor, I will not close my borders."

Andrew Cuomo recalled that the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut had already stopped all non-essential activities and called on the population to stay at home.

"When you lack clarity, it can cause confusion, which can lead to panic," said Connecticut governor Ned Lamont on Saturday.

The latter said he had asked the White House for clarification, which explained that all the scenarios were on the table, including a "lockdown", that is to say the ban on entry and exit d 'a given state.

A sign that the atmosphere is gradually tightening, local police and soldiers of the National Guard went door to door in Rhode Island on Saturday to warn the owners of vehicles registered in New York that they should self-contain for two weeks after arriving in this coastal state north of Connecticut.

Self-containment for travelers from New York State is now legally required and can be fined for non-compliance.

"It is a reactionary policy," said Andrew Cuomo. "And I don't think it's legal."

The governor has threatened to sue Rhode Island if he does not reverse his decision.

In Florida, Governor Ron De Santis announced measures similar to those taken in Rhode Island and police checkpoints were installed at the entrance to the state to the north.

Again, this is, for the moment, only to remind New Yorkers entering Florida that they must self-confine for 14 days, under penalty of a fine.

With AFP

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