Trump unveils three-phase plan to reopen U.S. amid coronavirus pandemic

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new federal guidelines for reopening the U.S. through a three-phase plan.

These guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in locations with low transmission of the coronavirus pandemic, while holding the line in harder-hit areas.

Trump said his recommendation are “the next front in our war, which is called opening up America again.” He added that the strategy is based on “hard verifiable data” and “benchmarks must be met at each phase.”

The three-phase plan, released Thursday afternoon, is designed to “mitigate the risk of resurgence” of the pandemic and to “protect the most vulnerable,” the guidelines say.

The guidelines have not suggested any reopening dates as Trump said it would be “a gradual process.”  He listed a set of criteria — such as testing and hospital capacity — for local leaders to use in making decisions.

Under the first phase of the three-phase plan, for instance, it recommends strict social distancing for all people in public. Gatherings – involving more than 10 people – are to be avoided and nonessential travel is discouraged.

For the phase two, people are encouraged to maximise social distancing where possible and limit gatherings to no more than 50 people unless precautionary measures are adopted. Travel could resume in this phase.

Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans, but with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections.