US officials throughout the country have cut back on many daily activities to fight the spreading Corona virus worldwide, amid calls for a 14-day national closure, and no more than 50 or more people gathered.
Officials in a number of states decided to close restaurants, bars and schools, and travelers returning to America from abroad remained stranded in long lines at major airports, in the event of waiting hours for the purpose of making sure they were free of illness, a matter that in itself has become a problem, due to overcrowding and what constitutes Of public health risks.
In a sign of the impending economic downturn, the Federal Reserve cut the benchmark interest rate to nearly zero, while US President Donald Trump sought to calm anxious citizens by announcing that the government had "enormous control" of the situation and urging people to stop buying food. Out of panic, "which drained store shelves nationwide.
The buying spree was not limited to food stores, but rather extended to arms and ammunition stores, as the panic intensified.
As Americans struggle to change their daily habits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended canceling or delaying any gatherings of 50 or more people across the country for an eight-week period, and demanded that individuals take appropriate precautions, including washing hands well. , And prevent convergence of individuals. The statement excluded the necessary daily works.
Even before these warnings were issued, parts of the country looked like ghost towns, while others were about to follow as amusement parks, museums, theaters, public libraries and memorials were closed, while states and major cities decided to close bars and restaurants.
In New York, the largest city in the United States with its noisy restaurants and bars, the city´s mayor, Bill de Palacio, has closed nightclubs, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues, while restaurants have been allowed to deliver food only to his students. "These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. But our city faces an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality."
Dr. Anthony Fushi, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (Ministry of Health), advocated a 14-day national closure to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Americans should be prepared to stay in safe havens for long periods, much more than we do as a country," said Fushi, a member of the White House task force to combat the spread of the virus. He added: "The best we can do. I think we should be excessively fierce (facing disease), even if we are criticized for the overreaction."
Fushi said he had informed the Trump administration of the risks that could be caused by the Corona epidemic, "They are listening, and often they are moving towards what we say."
The Coruna virus reached almost all states except West Virginia, and as of Monday, 3,700 cases and 64 deaths had been detected.
And there are great concerns about the high number, because many people in America may be carriers of the disease and carriers of it, although they do not show symptoms. The lack of test equipment also contributed to people´s concerns.
With constant fears of more outbreaks, local governments encouraged residents to stay indoors and stay away from gatherings, while states such as California, New York, and Washington banned large gatherings.
Schools were closed across the country under a national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on Friday, March 13, 2020, and worship services (churches, mosques, and synagogues) were canceled and recreational activities ceased, which led to radical changes in the daily lives of Americans.
The presidential campaign is now hypothetical, as President Donald Trump, Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden have canceled rallies and other personal events.
A poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, published Sunday, showed that 60 percent of Americans believe that "the worst is yet to come" in the crisis, with 40 percent saying their daily lives will change as a result.
More restrictions are expected in America to fight the virus, amid calls for an internal travel ban, days after President Trump banned travel from Europe.
President Trump has expanded the restrictions imposed on entering the United States from Europe to include the United Kingdom and Ireland, and travel restrictions apply at midnight on Monday, while the restrictions imposed by 26 other countries in Europe entered into force Friday.
And Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf did not rule out stopping domestic travel in America to stop the outbreak.
Some experts paint a bleak picture of the situation in America and link its prospects for improvement with strict measures to stop the spread of the virus. "There is a possibility that thousands of Americans, if not millions," will die of the virus, especially if it mutates into a more aggressive species, said US government expert Anthony Fushi.
Genetic mutation, according to experts, is a key characteristic of viruses and a defensive method that avoids avoiding the immune system of humans and animals.
A study published in the National Science magazine had already indicated that the emerging coronavirus had mutated into two main types, one of which was very aggressive with different rates of disease transmission and geographical distribution.
According to reports, a group of Chinese scientists analyzed 103 virus genes and identified mutations at 149 locations. It turns out that the type (L) virus spread more than the second type (S) at first in Wuhan, China, but the measures taken by the government limited it, so the second type (S) became more dangerous and widespread in the world.
A few days ago, a congressional doctor said that between 40-70 percent of Americans may develop the disease, and one percent of them may die. The population of America is estimated at 300 million.
Worldwide, the number of victims of the disease has so far reached about 170,000 injured and 6,500 dead, with thousands of cases confirmed every day.
