The key to reopening the American economy in the midst of this global pandemic will be moderation, but you’d have a hard time convincing many state and local authorities of that.
In New Jersey, for instance, Governor Phil Murphy has claimed that the Garden State will not be fully able to reopen until such a time as a coronavirus vaccine is made widely available to the public. The only problem with that is the fact that no coronavirus vaccine exists…not even for older, less severe iterations of the illness.
Now, as New Yorkers prepare to spend time socially-distanced at the beach for the coming holiday weekend, Big Apple Mayor Bill de Blasio is issuing a stern and ridiculous warning to revelers.
“Anyone tries to get in the water, they’ll be taken right out of the water,” the mayor warned reporters on Monday morning.
State beaches in New York, Delaware, Connecticut and New Jersey will reopen ahead of the Memorial Day weekend but NY Governor Cuomo said local officials could keep beaches closed amid COVID-19 fears.
De Blasio explained officials would not be putting up police barriers on NYC beaches just yet to give people a chance to comply with the rules after a weekend of people flouting the guidelines.
He reiterated that “no swimming, no lifeguards, no parties, no BBQs” and no sports were allowed on the sand, where social distancing rules would still apply.
Critics of de Blasio’s insinuation will cite the fact that being physically engaged or possibly detained for stepping into the surf is far more likely to facilitate the spread of coronavirus than taking no action would, with only bolsters the arguments of those who are crying “tyranny” over these longstanding lockdowns.
