The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for the cancellation of in-person events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks on Sunday, in order prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
What We Know:
- The CDC recently issued new guidance as governors across the country ordered bars and restaurants to close down with the exception of carryout or delivery business. Ohio, New York, Georgia, and a vast amount of other states have cancelled schools for weeks to try to limit the spread.
- “Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing,” the CDC said. “When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.”
- Despite the current health crisis, this guidance did not directly apply to organizations such as schools, universities or businesses, though many of those institutions have already moved to cancellation and online back-up plans. The advisory does not supersede direction from state and local officials.
- The current statistics show that around 2,900 people in the U.S. are confirmed to have the coronavirus, and roughly 60 people have died from the disease as of Sunday afternoon.
- Vice President Pence said Sunday that the federal government would release additional guidance on Monday morning on social distancing measures but that the federal government would defer to state and local officials to enact policies fit to their individual situations.
Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, would not expand on the guidance but also didn’t rule out a potential national lockdown. He stated, “It is how we respond to that challenge that’s going to determine what that ultimate endpoint is going to be.”
