The 3-phases of Trump's plan to reopen the economy

Updated: December 26, 2024 - 1:15am

<p>President Donald Trump outlined new federal guidelines for reopening the U.S. on Thursday.</p><p>"We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time," Trump said, adding that the guidelines were "based on hard verifiable data."</p><p>The plan outlines “recommendations”for governors to develop their own plans to reopen. It also includes a number of criteria that must be met in terms of numbers of infections and hospitalizations before they can open up.</p><p>Phase 1- The first phase encourages all individuals to continue social distancing, good hygiene practices like washing hands and to "strongly consider" using face coverings in public. It calls for avoiding gathering of more than 10 people, and avoiding any unnecessary travel. Schools that are currently closed should remain so. The also plan encourages employers to telework and if going to the workplace, to enact social distancing, temperature checks, testing and sanitation practices.</p><p>Phase 2- For regions that have met the criteria twice and have not seen “a rebound” in infections, it calls for residents to continue to practice social distancing and try to avoid large gathering but opens up the possibility of resuming non-essential travel.</p><p>Phase 3-This is for areas who have met the criteria three times and have no rebounds of the virus, is the most open and allows vulnerable parts of the population to go back in public. It outlines opening back up gyms and bars and resuming full-time staffing at worksites. Large venues, including some restaurants, movie theaters, churches and sports venues, can operate under strict social distancing protocols.</p>