It was a year ago on Tuesday that the U.S. government asked Americans to lock-down for “15 days to slow the spread” of COVID-19.
Then: Then-President Donald Trump unveiled the first federal coronavirus guidelines at a White House press briefing on March 16, 2020, asking Americans to stay home for about two weeks.
- “If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus and we’re going to have a big celebration all together,” Trump said, reading from prepared remarks. “With several of weeks of focused action we can turn the tide and turn it quickly.”
- Trump also announced the first vaccine candidate was entering phase 1 clinical trials.
Little was known about the transmission of the novel coronavirus, which had been confirmed in just over 4,000 Americans, and Trump’s guidelines made no mention of mask-wearing, which was being officially discouraged among the general public.
- Northern California officials the same day announced the first “shelter in place” orders, and the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut shuttered some businesses and restricted gatherings.
Now: Almost a year later, President Joe Biden, told Americans on Thursday that they might be able to celebrate the Fourth of July outdoors in small groups if they behave themselves for the next four months.
- Speaking in his first prime-time address, Biden said modest Independence Day gatherings will only be possible if everyone follows federal guidelines: social distancing, wearing a mask and getting a vaccine.
- If Americans “don’t stay vigilant,” he warned, “then we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track — and please, we don’t want to do that again.”
After 365 days of strict lockdowns across much of the U.S., most states have started easing COVID-19 restrictions amid declining infections and deaths and rising vaccination efforts.
However, many Americans, especially on the right, have lost whatever faith they once had in official public health decrees.
- Florida Gov. Ron De Santis — one of several Republican executives who have ended their state’s COVID-19 restrictions — on Friday dismissed Biden’s threat of a crackdown, at least in his state.
- “Let me just tell you, there are no lockdowns in Florida,” he told a cheering crowd. “It’s not going to happen.”
