Freakonomics Radio 416. How Do You Reopen a Country?
Apr 30, 2020
Gina Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island, and Julie Gerberding, former CDC director, dive into the complexities of reopening during COVID-19. Raimondo shares her experience balancing public health and economic concerns, while Gerberding provides insights on pandemic management. They discuss the critical role of widespread testing and innovative solutions like incentivized testing through a lottery system. The conversation highlights the importance of community cooperation and strategies used across various states to ensure a safe reopening.
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Rhode Island's Early Experience
- Rhode Island's first COVID-19 case was on March 1st, 2020, making it one of the first ten states affected.
- Over 7,000 people tested positive, and more than 200 died in Rhode Island.
Uneven Impact
- Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo points out that while some are inconvenienced, many are devastated by the pandemic's economic impact.
- Rhode Island has seen 170,000 unemployment claims, highlighting the widespread hardship.
Targeting New York
- Governor Raimondo initially used police to intercept cars with New York plates, enforcing a 14-day quarantine due to New York's high infection rate.
- This action drew criticism and a lawsuit threat from Governor Cuomo, leading Raimondo to apply the quarantine to all states.