Put prudence above confusion

It’s easy to understand why there is so much confusion.

We’re hearing mixed messages, from day-to-day, hour-to-hour and minute-to-minute from the occupant of the Oval Office.

First, President Donald Trump was warning of a surging death toll. Then he was pushing to open the country by Easter.

Last week, he released guidelines for opening up again. Then a day later he was urging governor’s to “liberate” their states.

Inconsistent doesn’t begin to describe it.

So, instead of trying to parse through his press conferences and Twitter account, let’s look at Donald Trump’s own “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.” You can find them on the White House’s own website at whitehouse.gov/opening-america.

The guidelines call for the following criteria to be met for re-opening economies:

•There should be a downward trajectory of flu-like illnesses and COVID-19-like cases reported within a 14-day period

•There should be a downward trajectory of documented cases of COVID-19 and positive tests as a percentage of total tests over a 14-day period

•Hospitals should be able to treat all patients without crisis care and there should be robust testing in place for at-risk healthcare workers.

None of those criteria have yet been met.

Once they are met, which we all hope happens sooner rather than later, the White House suggests a three-phase opening.

In the first, all those who are in vulnerable populations should remain at home, everyone in public should maximize social distance, non-essential travel should be limited, employers should continue to encourage working from home and those that have workers on site should enforce strict social distancing protocols.

In the second, for areas that have shown no evidence of a rebound in the infection rate and continue to meet the criteria above, vulnerable individuals should still stay at home, those in public should still maximize social distance, employers should still encourage working from home and those that have workers on site should enforce moderate social distancing protocols in common areas. Non-essential travel can resume.

In the third, again for areas that have shown no evidence of a rebound in the infection rate and continue to meet the criteria above, vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions but should still practice social distancing, everyone should consider minimizing time spent in crowded areas and employers can resume unrestricted staffing.

There are more specific details, but those are the basic guidelines.

They are reasonable. They are gradual. They are based on the advice of health experts.

They provide a path forward, one based on sensible data and prudent precautions rather than impulsiveness.

We understand the president’s frustration. But frustration is not a license to sow confusion.

We’re all frustrated. We’re all tired of isolation. We’re all anxious for a bit of normalcy to return.

Stay the course. There is light at the end of this tunnel, even if it’s difficult to see right now. We’ll get there.

And remember, the sacrifices you’re making are saving lives. — R.C.