New White House guidance advises avoiding groups of 10 or more, restaurants and bars

President Donald Trump and the White House’s coronavirus task force gave a briefing on the outbreak.

President Trump advised the public to avoid groups of 10 or more, including not going to restaurants and bars, and discretionary travel. He also advised all children should be schooled at home.

It was further clarified that guidelines of avoiding groups of 10 more should not just be in public but should extend to your own home as well.

Monday, President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence led a discussion with the Governors of more than 50 States and territories and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to provide an update from the White House Coronavirus Task Force and to continue the whole-of-government response to, preparation for, and mitigation of COVID-19.

The President discussed the unprecedented actions taken and funding being provided at every level of government to meet this historic challenge.

The Vice President encouraged Governors to thank exemplary American businesses, individuals, health, and emergency officials, and communities of faith who are doing what they can to “flatten the curve” in this all-of-America effort. Both the President and Vice President thanked Governors, State, and local leaders for their tireless work.

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., and Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D., provided updates on testing capabilities and highlighted community mitigation activities.

Messages Birx shared were also particularly aimed at millennials, mentioning her own daughters and words she has shared with them in response to the pandemic.

“They are the core group that will stop this virus,” Birx said during the press briefing. “Not just in bars and restaurants, but in homes. We really want people to be separated at this time.”

Now, some social media is promoting social distancing.

“It keeps me in contact with populations and people that I wouldn’t normally be connected to,” said Jen Orlando in Fort Myers.

The people most vulnerable, those who could die if they contracted COVID-19, are sharing #HighRiskCovid19 on social media platforms, putting a face to lives people are saving by following new guidelines. For some millennials, it makes them think about their own families.

“A small child, older senior like my grandparents, my father himself; he’s an older man,” said. “So it’s like, no I don’t want to see that. It makes me sad.”

Federal leaders also provided a global status update on COVID-19 and thanked Governors for activating their emergency operations centers, and the National Guard, and establishing State-level task forces. Governors provided updates on mitigation activities and discussed coordination with private sector partners and other State, local, and tribal government officials.

Another takeaway from the White House press briefing: If someone tests positive for coronavirus, everyone who lives at the home of that patient is also asked to stay there.

Officials said they are counting on each and every person to keep communities healthy.

“It makes me incredibly sad having to see any human being especially a child having to go through that,” said Jordan Gallegos in Fort Myers.