As Dem Governors Shut Down Their States Again, Many Reject Another Crippling Lockdown
The governors of Oregon and New Mexico reimposed strict lockdown orders on Friday even as many of their counterparts in other states rejected the crippling restrictions of last spring.
“We are in a life-or-death situation, and if we don’t act right now, we cannot preserve the lives, we can’t keep saving lives, and we will absolutely crush our current health care system and infrastructure,” Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said in issuing a two-week stay-at-home order.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered a two-week “freeze” starting Wednesday, under which all businesses will be required to close their offices to the public.
While most Oregon stores will remain open, gyms, museums, pools, movie theaters and zoos will be forced to close, and restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout. Social gatherings will be restricted to six people.
The Democratic governor warned that violators would be subject to fines or arrest.
“For the last eight months, I have been asking Oregonians to follow to the letter and the spirit of the law, and we have not chosen to engage law enforcement,” Brown said. “At this point in time, unfortunately, we have no other option.”
The coronavirus is on the rise across the U.S., with deaths and new cases per day climbing to record levels.
Still, many governors and other elected officials are reluctant to return to the lockdowns, large-scale business closures and mask mandates seen last spring.
President Donald Trump asked all Americans to remain “vigilant” but ruled out a nationwide lockdown.
“Hopefully, whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell, but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown,” Trump said.
Governors in many states, including New York, Maryland, Virginia and Minnesota, have taken largely incremental measures over the past few days, such as limiting the size of gatherings, forcing businesses to close early, restricting capacity or cutting off alcohol sales earlier in the evening.
Starting Saturday, most people in North Dakota will be ordered to wear masks in indoor public spaces and outdoors where social distancing isn’t possible, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum said late Friday. Businesses will also have restrictions on capacity and hours of operation.
Nevada Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak weighed lockdown measures against their enormous economic costs.
“Some people are going to ask, ‘Why not limit retail, or casino resorts, or restaurants right now?’ That’s a fair question,” he said.
“That is the tightrope of trying to balance controlling the COVID-19 spread, protecting our hospitals from surges, and at the same time, not destroying and shutting down our economy.”
In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has emphasized new treatments and vaccines that are expected to become available soon.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken an even firmer stance against new restrictions, suing after El Paso closed nonessential businesses. An appeals court on Thursday temporarily lifted the shutdown.
In a statement, Paxton called the court’s decision “outstanding,” adding that “I will not let rogue political subdivisions try to kill small businesses and holiday gatherings through unlawful executive orders.”
Officials have gotten backlash from some constituents, especially business owners who fear for their livelihoods.
In Ohio, Bahram Akradi, CEO of Life Time health clubs, objected when the governor added gyms to a list of businesses that could be shuttered if cases continue to rise.
“Another shutdown would just be completely devastating and simply unjust,” Akradi said.
He added: “The damage of not allowing people to have healthy activity is much more than the gain.”
In Montana, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said he is wary of imposing tougher statewide restrictions without additional federal aid to unemployed individuals and small businesses.
“I never wanted to punish the businesses that are doing right in this pandemic to keep their employees and customers safe. Shutting down those businesses would do just that,” he said.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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