The Trump Administration is expected to announce new guidelines today that are intended to ease up on some of the measures put in place to address COVID-19. The new guidelines are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit places. The ultimate decisions will remain with governors. The new guidelines will come as the federal government envisions a gradual recovery, in which mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said that data from across the country showed that the nation is “improving” but that Americans had to recommit to social distancing to keep up the positive momentum. She said nine states have fewer than 1,000 cases and just a few dozen new cases per day. Dr. Birx added those would likely be the first to see a lifting in social distancing restrictions at the direction of their governors. Read the article at the Associated Press.

Although the full details of the guidance remain to be seen, the Washington Post published an article discussing a plan developed by FEMA and the CDC that is intended to be part of the larger White House strategy. Read the article at the Washington Post.