The White House is not telling states to shut down but said that governors are free to do so if they wish.
“We have not provided additional instruction to encourage states to have statewide shutdowns,” said Marc Short, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, who President Trump has entrusted with the administration’s coronavirus response. “If that’s something the governor feels that’s in the interest of his people, we respect that decision, but that’s not guidance to the states.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide “shelter in place” order on Thursday, requiring 40 million residents to mostly stay home. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling for New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo to do the same as the number of coronavirus cases reaches more than 40% of the nationwide total — 56,000 cases.
On Friday, Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses to keep their workers at home.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he will not close beaches, instead limiting gatherings to under 10 people — even as images of crowded local beaches have gone viral.
Earlier this week, the White House said that it would not discuss curfews or restrictions on domestic travel with governors as they ramp up their response to the coronavirus.
Trump has feuded publicly with governors, including Newsom, over the state’s homelessness crisis.
In a video call from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, Trump told Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that he had his backing when Kemp asked about leaving directives for the National Guard to the governors. “That’s done. I like it,” Trump said.
