What the guidelines mean for the gaming industry is unclear, since casinos, bingo halls, and racetracks weren\u2019t specifically mentioned in Thursday\u2019s briefings. However, even in states that can begin recovery phases as early as this week, it\u2019s unlikely many gaming venues would be able to operate effectively during the Phase One period.<\/p>\n
Before casinos closed last month because of the COVID-19 outbreak, some tried implementing social distancing practices, including limiting the number of players at table games. Others increased the number of hand sanitizing stations, or closed every second slot machine or electronic table game in a row to prevent people from gathering.<\/p>\n
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The White House guidelines propose a gating system for states to enter into and proceed through, and while that system proposes states use a 14-day period of downward trends to use as metrics for shifting between phases, Dr. Deborah Birx, the administration\u2019s Coronavirus Response Coordinator, told reporters that\u2019s not set in stone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe did not put a timeline on any of the phases,\u201d Birx said. \u201cWe want the governors with the data that they have community by community to be setting up those timelines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regional Reopening Partnerships Encouraged<\/h2>\n
Not only do the guidelines let the states make the call on going through the phases, including adjusting it by cities and regions within the state, but the federal government is also encouraging states to partner regionally in developing COVID-19 recovery plans.<\/p>\n
That had already started to take shape before Thursday, when several Mid-Atlantic and New England states and Pacific coast states announced separate partnerships. On Thursday, a partnership between Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, was expanded to include Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n
Prior to Trump\u2019s briefing Thursday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he wanted to see the Buckeye State start reopening on May 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s going to be gradual \u2013 one thing after another,\u201d <\/strong>the Republican leader tweeted. \u201cWe want to do this in a thoughtful way that engenders confidence and ensures customers and employees are safe.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nAs of Thursday night, there are 671,349 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US, according to the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Research Center, with 581,827 considered active cases. While 56,236 have recovered, the virus has led to 33,286 deaths.<\/p>\n
Worldwide, there are nearly 2.1 million cases, with 144,243 reported deaths.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Trump on Thursday evening outlined guidelines states can use to implement a phased reopening, as the United States begins the recovery phase of the COVID-19 crisis in earnest. While the coronavirus has led to an unprecedented shutdown of the country, the pandemic\u2019s effect on some states has been different than others. As such, Trump […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":133311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Trump Announces COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines for States<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n