Protesters have taken to the streets in states across the US, demanding that governors reopen economies shut by the coronavirus pandemic. [Source: BBC]
Protesters have taken to the streets in states across the US, demanding that governors reopen economies shut by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rallies in Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Washington state were expected on Sunday, following earlier protests in half a dozen states.
Agitation for easing restrictions has grown, despite the risk of a COVID-19 resurgence posed by reopening too soon.
US President Donald Trump has signalled support for the protests.
The US is the epicentre of the COVID-19 crisis, with over 735,000 cases and some 40,000 deaths – but signs have emerged that it is reaching the apex of the outbreak and that infection rates are slowing in some states.
Governors in several states have begun discussions to plan reopening amid signs of the slowdown, but other regions remain under strict lockdown.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was the first in the nation to issue a state-wide stay home order, shuttering the country’s most populous state since 19 March. Neighbouring west coast states Washington and Oregon followed suit days later, putting their combined 11.5 million residents under a stay at home order since 23 March.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that the state would extend its stay home measures until 15 March. Speaking at his daily virus briefing on Sunday, Mr Cuomo urged caution to residents, beset with “cabin fever” and desperate for their state to reopen.
