Picture above is Kay Coles James, Heritage Foundation President
Article below by Tyler O'Neil in "PJMedia":
On Thursday, the Heritage Foundation's National Coronavirus Recovery Commission
met for the first time. At the meeting, seventeen experts hammered out a
general five-phase plan to "save lives and livelihoods" by defeating
the coronavirus and jumpstarting the economy. Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged the commission's work.
In
order to slow the spread of the virus, President Donald Trump has urged
Americans to stay home, practice social distancing, and avoid going
into the office if their work is not "essential." State and local
leaders have issued various orders, and businesses have moved to remote
work or laying off employees. Unemployment has skyrocketed, Americans
are having trouble paying rent, and millions are hoping America can
reopen sooner rather than later. President Trump originally said he
hoped to reopen the country by Easter, but that seems too ambitious.
"Good
public health policy is good economic policy, and vice versa," Kay
Coles James, president of the Heritage Foundation, said in a statement.
"If the economy fails, there will be severe, long-term health
consequences; and if the health care system fails, there will be severe,
long-term economic consequences. A nation decimated by the disease
cannot have a functioning economy, and a catastrophic loss of jobs
wreaks horrific damage on both mental and physical health."
Therefore, the commission announced a five-phase plan to reopen the economy while also combatting the virus.
1. Regional reopening
The
commission's plan calls for a regionally-targeted approach for
reopening. America must "return to a more normal level of business
activity at the regional level based on scientific data." Much as it
would be inspiring to reopen the country all at once, coronavirus
hotspots like the New York City area will likely require restrictions
longer than most other parts of the country.
Even
this tentative step, however, would not be taken until the health care
system has been stabilized, enhanced testing has been established, and
the spread of the virus through social contacts has been better
understood, according to the plan. As businesses reopen, they will still
be required to follow CDC guidelines on social distancing.
2. Expand mitigation
As
America considers reopening most businesses, scientists will need to
expand testing, reporting, and contact tracing regarding the
coronavirus. The commission's plan calls for strict adherence to CDC
guidance on social distancing until new cases begin to decline for at
least 14 days. It also advocates for increased resources to regional
public health departments to "expand testing, reporting, and contact
tracing of those possibly in contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases."
3. Build the science
The
commission also calls for an investment in the science of the
coronavirus. America should "increase the availability and rapidity of
new diagnostic tests, while supporting the acceleration and introduction
of proven therapeutics and vaccines."
It
will not be enough to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists
must learn more about this pathogen and determine how best to respond to
other new strains.
4. Launch an economic recovery
The
Heritage Foundation commission calls for "U.S. leadership in leading
the free world in economic recovery." The plan envisions "risk-informed
measures to reestablish international travel while limiting the threat
of reinfection." America should partner with allies in "empowering
economic freedom and partnerships in free markets among free people."
5. Prepare for future pandemics
The coronavirus has opened America's eyes to the risk of too much reliance on China. Beijing arguably violated international law by silencing doctors, delaying lockdowns, and lying to the world. In recent decades, the U.S. medical supply chain has become reliant on the very same China from when this coronavirus came.
For
these and other reasons, the Heritage Foundation commission plan calls
for supply chain reform in pursuit of the broader goal of reducing the
future risks of pandemics. It also calls for investment in national and
state stockpiles, strategies to build up resource capacity, plans to
develop vaccines for coronaviruses, and an "international
biosurveillance network to detect and contain emerging infections
diseases."
Each of these
five stages is essential for any plan to reopen America. When managed in
tandem, these stages will help balance the twin demands of fighting the
virus and encouraging an economic recovery.
Naturally,
this blueprint represents the beginning of the commission's work. "The
announcement of the commission’s phased plan for reopening is just the
beginning of its approach to getting the American people back to work.
In the coming days and weeks, the commission will hear from other
experts and consider ideas that the American people are already sending
us," Rob Bluey, the commission's spokesman, said in a statement.
This
broad vision statement sets the Heritage Foundation commission on a
solid footing as Americans are anxious to get back to work.