COVID-19 Outbreak (Update: More than 2.9M cases and 132,313 deaths in US)

superchuck500 said
The phased approach using data trends is the method the White House has developed and is now encouraging - and I think many states, cities, and organizations using it to some degree.

I have needed to look at the White House plan to understand the re-opening plan for a large organization that I do legal work for . . . I have only been asked to spot (tort) liability concerns but I have reviewed the plans and they're based on (1) requiring case and test trends to hit certain metrics to get through the "gate" in to the next phase; (2) continued use of some mitigation measures - some in a sliding scale of impact - to protect the vulnerable groups that include the elderly and healthcare workers, and (3) monitoring the situation as a function of health-care capacity.

The New Orleans plan public website doesn't state the specific metrics (there probably is a more detailed plan that isn't on the site), but the White House plan includes, for example, that phase 1 cannot begin until there is a downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period or a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests). And phase 1 is a limited opening, it's not a immediate return with a few casual measures still around.

I didn't watch her press conference but is that where you're getting the "zero new infections" baseline that you're claiming? How is the New Orleans plan different from the White House guidance?

https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/mayor-cantrell-outlines-steps-toward-reopening-(1)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/#criteria

As I read the quotes, the City is saying that they don't really think their own guidelines should actually govern phased reopening. They're just going to put off any type of reopening as long as possible.

Which makes sense from a purely public health standpoint, I guess, but ignores reality in a lot of ways, and the city's ability to enforce a lockdown is going to get much harder very soon.

After the city's press conference Friday, Cantrell's administration released its initial, phased approach, noting it aligns with state and federal guidelines.

It includes public health milestones that must be met before the city eases restrictions. They include a decline in cases, increased testing, robust isolation and healthcare capacity.
“Those things are in place, which is great, but that’s like our safety net,” Dr. Bruce Wilson, M.D. said.

Wilson works at West Jefferson hospital and has a background in public health.

"If we say, 'okay, we checked all these boxes. Let's get to the goal line.' That's us running towards the goal line thinking we're going to score a touchdown but then getting fancy and not really taking charge of the goal at hand," Wilson explained. "Then getting captured by the defender, getting caught by the virus again."

Wilson says more data is needed and that means, more time, especially for a city slammed early on with the virus. He says that's why the city's plan doesn't have a timeline. Wilson says whether to proceed to the next phase will depend on how the community progresses.

Basically the guidelines say we could have started Phase 1 last week but the City wants to wait. OK, whatever, but quit BSing about how you're using the federal guidelines.