(CMR) The premier, Alden McLaughlin, has shared that the possibility of the borders re-opening for September 1, 2020 is looking very bleak given the current state of the coronavirus in the United States.
The question came from a member of the media who observed that the international media has that the island will be re-opening for September 1 and that perhaps some persons would be planning vacations based on those projections.
However, the premier clarified that he actually stated that the borders would remain closed until at least August 31 and then subject to further valuation at that time; not that it would be re-opening for the 1 September. However, upon reflection of the current situation in the United States, he calls that timeline unrealistic and “bleak”.
He shared his concerns about them not yet having the virus under control which means a re-opening of our borders would ensure reinfection all over again an all efforts to date would have been meaningless.
As of today, the United States has over 1.5 million persons infected with the coronavirus and over 91,500 persons dead, according to Johns Hopkins University data. As it reaches the 100,000 death toll mark most states have re-opened after pressure from citizens to return like to normal. However, as states relax more rules it is expected that the US could reach almost 150,000 deaths by August.
The United Staes leads the world in both infections and COVID-19 deaths. They have surpassed Russia who has 299,941 confirmed infections and Brazil with 262,545. The United Kingdom now holds the record for the highest number of infected persons for Europe at 250,121 and over 35, 422 deaths.
As people have been moving around more — and as social distancing measures have been relaxed — the model has projected more deaths.
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