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Memo To America's Governors On What To Consider In Order To Reopen

In Venice, Italy two women help deliver food Saturday to people who have been unable to go shopping . (Andrea Pattoro/AFP via Getty Images)

The nonprofit investigative newsroom ProPublica has put together a memo to America's governors on what to consider when it comes to reopening their states. It's based on interviews with experts and frontline officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.

Here's their preface:

Memo to America’s Governors:

From: ProPublica

Subject: Restarting the Economy

After insisting that he had absolute power to decide when to reopen the American economy, President Donald Trump has turned over to all of you what he initially called “the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Trump is often guilty of hyperbole, but he’s right in this case. Figuring out how and when to let people go back to work during an outbreak of life-threatening disease is the most consequential decision any of you will ever face. You’ve already seen the stakes in New York, New Jersey and Michigan.

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Get this wrong and thousands of people in your state will die. As the presidential election campaign heats up, count on the president to blast you for high unemployment rates in your state (you lifted restrictions too slowly) or clusters of deaths (you went too far, too soon).

Their topline takeaways:

  1. Build an Army of Contact Tracers
  2. Be Prepared to Test Constantly
  3. Isolate People With Suspected Infections From Their Families
  4. Protect, Protect, Protect Health Care Workers
  5. Normal Is Not the Goal
  6. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Second Wave
  7. Clear Communication Is Critical

READ THEIR FULL ANALYSIS

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