The Analyzer News Roundup for May 12, 2020

The White House released a new mask guidance requiring President Trump’s employees to wear masks or face coverings while they are inside the West Wing. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, however, will not be required to wear masks.

The guidance comes a week after two aides, including the vice president’s spokeswoman, tested positive for the coronavirus. The memo, distributed to staff members through the White House management office, was unclear whether the employees will have to keep the masks on anywhere else in the White House.

Officials said other safety changes were implemented Monday, including displaying signs encouraging social distancing and asking aides if they felt any symptoms during routine temperature checks.

A new study published Monday found children treated across the country for coronavirus in Intensive Care Units, or ICUs, didn’t display any inflammation symptoms related to an unknown syndrome that has already killed three children in New York. Instead, the kids showed respiratory problems like the majority of COVID-19 infected people.

“At the end of the day, we have to realize that this disease can actually be serious in children,” said Dr. Daniele De Luca, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care’s president.

The study, carried out between late March and early April, looked at 48 kids from 14 different hospitals. The majority of the children in the study, around 40, had pre-existing medical conditions including cerebral palsy, cancer and suppressed immune systems.

Some northern counties in New York, the most infected state in the country, might partially reopen this weekend, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The three counties will have limited construction, manufacturing and curbside retail.

In order for the state’s 10 regions to start opening up after May 15, Cuomo said, they must fulfill seven metrics:

• Hospitalizations for COVID-19 must show a 14-day continuous decline.
• Fewer than 5 virus-related hospital deaths per day, or a continuous 14-day decline.
• New hospitalizations may not exceed 2 per 100,000 residents a day for 3 consecutive days.
• A hospital bed-vacancy of 30% at least.
• Availability of at least 30% in ICUs.
• Conducting 30 virus tests on a weekly average per 1,000 residents a month.
• At least 30 working contact tracers per 100,000 residents in the state.

While this may be used as an indicator for other parts of the state to slowly reopen, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s ban on large gatherings won’t end before June. Nonessential businesses will also remain closed in the city as part of the ban as the city failed to meet the criteria above.

However, Cuomo reserves the right for officials to “pull the plug or slow down the increase in activity” if the virus continues to spread quickly.

Major League Baseball owners have agreed on a proposal to start the 2020 season, scheduled to begin on March 26, in early July. The games would be hosted without spectators at home stadiums, as long as health officials approve in advance.

It would be a smaller 82-game season, compared to the traditional 162 games. However, in order to finalize the agreement, the Major League Baseball Players Association would need to agree on the terms to continue with the modified season.