CBS Newscast March 16, 2020

CBS Newscast March 16, 2020

“America Shut Down”

President trump issues new guidelines for Americans in efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. Across the United States, streets are vacant, restaurants and bars are shut down as a result of the efforts by Americans to self-quarantine and social distance themselves from others. The city of San Franscisco has ordered it’s residents to “shelter in place.” There are 36 million elementary, middle, and high school-aged children at home after schools have shut down as a result of the virus. The stock market suffered major losses, and fears of widespread job losses grip the nation. 

“President Trump Issues New Guidelines in Hopes of Slowing the Coronavirus.”

In a press conference on March 16, 2020, President Donald Trump calls for Americans to do their part in helping slow the spread of novel coronavirus in the United States. The president has changed his view on the virus and covered many preventative and preparative guidelines for all Americans to follow in the press conference, as well as serious warnings relating to the virus. The President stated that he believed the Coronavirus crisis could last through July or August, and may even cause a recession. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for Americans to stay home for the next 15 days in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. Bars and restaurants across the nation were told to either close down completely or to only serve food to-go. At the press conference, President Trump said that Americans should have no more than ten people at social gatherings in an effort to keep infected peoples from infecting others, as those who have the coronavirus may not be aware of their own infection. As of March 16, these guidelines were exactly that, guidelines. The White House recommended this course of action for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but did not require them by any means. President Trump did not order governors of any of the fifty states to shut down bars, restaurants, or food courts before this press conference. The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, said that states needed more direction from the federal government in this time of crisis. 

“White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Birx Explains Coronavirus Guidelines”

Dr. Birx explained in her first interview since the coronavirus outbreak that the guidelines that were released by the White House in the press conference held on March 16^th were based off of models of other pandemics that had been studied carefully to see what methods would be most effective in battling the COVID-19 crisis. Dr. Birx explains that the 15 day stay-home period can help level the curve of illnesses so that less people are getting sick at the same time, making it easier for medical professionals to treat those affected effectively. This stay-at-home period can also be effective in helping slow the spread of the virus to those who are more vulnerable to it, such as elderly people, those receiving treatment for cancer, and those who are otherwise immunocompromised. She also expresses her opinion that Italy has been hit so hard by the virus and endured so many affected and deaths caused by the illness because they were “slow” in taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus. She further explained that the inconvenience of staying home now could mean the difference between “getting behind the virus” or staying in front of it. She is asking for Americans to collectively sacrifice the freedom of going about their daily lives in order to protect others. Dr. Birx goes on to give more details about the virus itself, stating that it is two to three more times contagious than influenza. The Doctor explains that due to the high population of millennials in the nation, they will be instrumental in either preventing or encouraging the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Birx says that if Millennials are adherent to the “no social gatherings of ten or more people” guideline, then the spread of coronavirus will be greatly reduced. Her main focus was to “flatten the curve” of those affected by the virus, and she said she believed that could be done even in states that have been hit by the virus very hard, like New York. 

“How the Nationwide Lockdowns are Affecting Americans.” 

There were over 4,300 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 80 deaths due to the illness in the United States as of March 16^th. Three states in New England shut down all non-essential businesses, resulting in over 30 million people without restaurants, bars, or other places of non-essential business. The Governor of New York spoke out about the apparent lack of federal leadership in a press conference, saying that having “every local, state government is having to scramble” to deduce the most effective way of managing the outbreak of coronavirus. Schools in 35 states are shut down as a preventative measure. Many shut-down schools are handing out free lunches to those in need during this time. 38,000 coronavirus tests have been administered within the United States as of March 16^th.

“Stock Market falls by 3,000 points, Highest Drop of All-Time.”

            The stock market has dropped thirteen percent, the second highest percentage dropped in one day. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, there is a time of economic uncertainty that may lead to major job losses throughout the nation. Congress is working on a solution to steady this major economic uncertainty and prevent against a recession. 

“Doctors and Nurses’ Concerns on the Front Lines of the Coronavirus Battle.”

It is predicted that medical professionals will need 3.5 billion masks during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. There are only 12 million masks available at this time. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals caring for Americans with coronavirus do not have enough medical supplies or protective equipment to handle the growing numbers of COVID-19 infected patients. More and more healthcare professionals are getting infected with the virus themselves after threating those who have coronavirus. Doctors are making efforts to make their treatment of patients as non-contact as possible. 

“Researchers race to create a vaccine for COVID-19.”

There are more than two dozen vaccines currently in production worldwide. The focus of these vaccines is to prevent the coronavirus from attaching from lung cells, rendering it harmless. Potential vaccines will take 12-18 months to go through clinical trials and be available for widespread use. Researchers in the United States are hoping to use an antiviral drug that was effective against Ebola in the fight against COVID-19.