JUDY WOODRUFF: State by state, more governors are speaking out about their plans to reopen
the economy. But others are concerned about the ramifications of easing restrictions too
soon.
That comes as the pandemic's U.S. death toll stands at around 33,000. And the number of
infections nationwide climbed to some 687,000.
John Yang begins our coverage.
DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: Our team of experts now agrees that we can
begin the next front in our war.
JOHN YANG: President Trump calls it a road map to recovery. But some state and local
officials say talk of lifting restrictions is too optimistic, as thousands of new infections
and deaths are still being reported daily.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo:
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): How do you plan the reopening? Nobody's ever done this before.
And how do you plan a reopening of an economy, and, at the same time, be cognizant of the
public health crisis that you're still in?
JOHN YANG: The White House outlined how the nation's governors could begin lifting restrictions
in three phases once the number of infections in their state does down and the testing rate
goes up.
Phase one recommends social distancing and discourages gatherings of more than 10 people
and nonessential travel. Phase two limits gatherings to 50 people, and allows travel
to resume. Phase three proposes a return to normalcy, while isolating any new cases.
Some governors say they will begin easing restrictions soon. Governor Gretchen Whitmer
said today Michigan will take initial steps on May 1, just two weeks away. And Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan is expected to release guidelines for his state next week.
While the president said yesterday that governors would have the freedom make their own calls,
today, he tweeted, "Liberate Minnesota, liberate Michigan, and liberate Virginia," all states
with Democratic governors who are facing a growing conservative backlash to measures
aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Those are among 42 states, plus the District of Columbia, under stay-at-home orders.
And a new report from New York state underscores the danger facing long-term care facilities.
Twenty of the state's nursing homes have reported at least 20 deaths each. Nationwide, according
to a New York Times tally, at least 6,900 people living in or connected to nursing homes
have died of the virus.
As scientists work to learn more about the coronavirus, a top World Health Organization
experts said today, it's not clear whether antibodies in the blood of COVID-19 survivors
them against reinfection.
Meanwhile, the damage the pandemic is doing to the world's economic health is becoming
more evident.
World Bank President David Malpass:
DAVID MALPASS, President, World Bank: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing deep economic
harm and threatening to erase decades of economic progress and poverty reduction. We're expecting
a major global recession. Our estimates suggest a much deeper downturn than the Great Recession.
JOHN YANG: Germany's top economic official echoed that concern.
PETER ALTMAIER, German Economic Minister (through translator): The German economy is in a situation
that is more serious than anything we have experienced in the post-war period. It will
be probably more severe than what we have seen during the banking and stock market crisis.
JOHN YANG: Still, Germany, Europe's largest economy, is poised to lift its partial lockdown.
Schools will restart in stages beginning May 4. But a ban on large gatherings, like sporting
events and concerts, has been extended to August 31.
And, today, the United Nations warned that, over the next three to six months, cases in
Africa could increase to 10 million. The U.N. report projects the deaths could range anywhere
from 300,000 people to as many as 3.3 million.
In Kenya, doctors are already preparing.
DR. AHMED KALEBI, CEO, Pathologists Lancet Kenya: The infection is still going through
the community. But we expect an inevitable surge. And that should be happening in the
next two to four weeks.
JOHN YANG: And an embrace of the new normal on this Eastern Orthodox Good Friday. Pews
were empty as priests broadcast morning services on television for those observing in the safety
of their own homes.
For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm John Yang.