While we’re trying to get Gov. Sununu to open up the ‘Public Health Trumps Everything’ State of NH, Gov. Scott, just a step to our left, announced VT will begin loosening restrictions tomorrow.
Related: 300+ Attend #ReopenNH Rally in Concord (Lots of Pictures)
The governor announced Friday outdoor businesses and construction operations with crews of two or less, and certain low-contact professions like realtors and attorneys could begin working again starting Monday so long as they abide by state social distancing guidelines.
Those positions would represent the first steps to reopening the state’s economy after most businesses were closed or limited to curbsides under gubernatorial orders in order to mitigate COVID-19’s spread through Vermont. …
Scott also said the administration was working on guidance for allowing farmers markets to operate after May 1 and better guide other operations, like garden supply stores, to operate through remote ordering and curbside pickup.
Gov. Scott’s reasoning is that the number of cases of COVID-19 has plateaued which seems a bit arbitrary to me. If they reduced testing or stopped, the number of reported cases would flatten and drop. If you went crazy and tested 20% more people every day, you’d probably be waiting a long time for this sort of evidence to justify rolling back restrictions.
Another point worthy of thought; most of the cases in New Hampshire, including deaths, are occurring in nursing homes and senior communities. Given the contagious nature and the historical impacts of influenzas on the elderly that makes sense. But we have entire counties with few to no cases who are as locked down as Nashua and Manchester where most of the reported cases and deaths occurred. It makes little sense but the Governor (Sununu) is staying the course. Clinging to his public health trumps everything narrative. Locking down places with no cases along with the rest.
We’ve had plenty to say about that, but I suspect the bigger problem is something he addressed the week before he locked us down. How do you come back from something like this?
Before I answer that, there may be opening moves in Vermont that address places New Hampshire never went. But there is also a huge psychological advantage to saying hey, we want to peel back the onion a bit and try to get back to normal.
How should that look in New Hampshire? You start by cutting these counties loose or at least loosening restrictions down to the country of municipal level, at least for a few weeks with some State oversight and support. You let food trucks operate. You open up outdoor spaces while recommending continued social distancing or masks based on your risk factors or proximity to people with higher risk (like grandparents who live at home).
In other words, you start to cut the cord because if you do not, it might start to strangle you.
Let the same adults who were smart enough to elect you to office some credit for being smart enough to listen to your suggestions and determine what that means for them, their businesses, employees, customers, families, and friends.
