But the former governor also said he wanted people to be kept “in the mode” of wearing face masks and gloves to create some protection against the spread of COVID-19.
“Of course, everybody wants to save every life they can. But the question is, towards what end ultimately?” Christie said. “Are there ways that we can thread the middle here to allow that there are going to be deaths? And there are going to be deaths no matter what.”
The former governor then added: “If we can do things to keep people in the mode of wearing masks, of wearing gloves… distancing where appropriate, we’ve got to let some of these folks get back to work.
“Because if we don’t, we’re going to destroy the American way of life in these families, and it will be years and years before we can recover.”
Christie later said people were “going to have to” accept reopening in spite of climbing coronavirus case numbers.
“We’re in the midst of a pandemic that we haven’t seen in over 100 years,” he told CNN. “And we’re going to have to continue to do things.”
Earlier in the show, the ex-New Jersey governor said he did not want to “blow the whole thing open” with football games and rock concerts in full stadiums.
“But we have to start letting people get back to work, because I can see in my own state here the devastation… the economic devastation is equally sad,” Christie added.
His remarks on The Daily DC podcast Monday came after a report by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) projected that daily coronavirus deaths would roughly double to 3,000 by June 1.
The report first covered by The New York Times also modeled a 700 percent increase in daily confirmed coronavirus infections by the end of May.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement yesterday that the Coronavirus Task Force had not seen the FEMA report, adding that the document did not reflect the administration’s modeling.
“This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed,” he said. “The President’s phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with.”
According to Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 tracker, more than 1.1 million cases of novel coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S. so far.
America has also recorded 68,934 related deaths and 187,180 total recoveries from the disease.
Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste. Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms. Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people. If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance. Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease. Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning. Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask. Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask. Do not reuse single-use masks. Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves. The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
