Trump to governors: Restart schools
President takes issue with Fauci’s cautions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called on governors across the nation Wednesday to work to reopen schools in their states, taking issue with Dr. Anthony Fauci’s caution against moving too quickly in sending students back to class.
The president accused Fauci of wanting “to play all sides of the equation.”
“I think they should open the schools, absolutely. I think they should,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Our country’s got to get back, and it’s got to get back as soon as possible. And I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed,” he said.
Fauci had urged caution in testimony Tuesday before a Senate committee, but he made clear that he thought reopening decisions probably will differ from one region to the next.
In his testimony, Fauci issued a warning that cities and states could “turn back the clock” and see more death and economic damage if they lift stay-at-home orders too quickly.
Among those are Colorado and
North Dakota, whose governors met with Trump on Wednesday.
In North Dakota, which has had fewer cases than many other states, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum allowed most businesses to reopen on May 1 with precautions that include limiting bars and restaurants to half capacity, requiring barbers and cosmetologists to wear masks and prohibiting some high-intensity fitness classes.
In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis declared an early state of emergency and a stay-at-home directive that closed most businesses. This month, Polis began to relax restrictions while warning there could be rollbacks if the virus surges.