The Lockdown Is Tough. Ending It Too Soon Would Be Worse.

President Donald Trump’s approach to the issue of coronavirus lockdowns has been characterized by a series of unsettling overreaches and reversals. In late March, Trump declared that he wanted to end U.S. lockdowns by Easter. A few days later the president reversed his statement and extended federal guidelines for shutdowns through the end of April. This week, Trump briefly attempted to assert presidential authority to order states to end their lockdowns, but after it became clear that this probably was unconstitutional, he backed down and declared that he wouldn’t interfere with state and regional reopening plans. At a press briefing today Trump gave his blessing to governors to go ahead with their own plans, issuing guidelines for recommending when each state or region should reopen. It’s a step in the right direction.

Some voices continue to call for the economy to reopen quickly in spite of the mortal danger of the pandemic. Indiana Representative Trey Hollingsworth recently asserted that the many American deaths that would result would be the “lesser of…two evils” compared with the economic cost of continued lockdowns. Investor Michael Burry, famed for shorting the housing bubble of the early 2000s, has claimed there is “no justification” for current policies. And protesters in Michigan, Ohio and elsewhere have demanded immediate reopening.