What would it take to reopen the U.S.?

Here's the latest news: Malaria drug disappoints in small trial Chinese factories return to work after quarantine U.S. strikes deal for massive stimulus package  What it will take to get back to work Can the U.S. really go back to work in three weeks?  Looking at a market in turmoil and people losing their jobs by the thousands, that's what President Trump said his goal was: "THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM!" Bloomberg spoke to health experts about what it would take to start lifting shutdowns on businesses and telling people that they can leave their homes, shop and go back to their lives as normal.  Unsurprisingly, they told us, it's not that simple.  Right at the start, there's one big risk: Send people back to work without the outbreak under control, and you make it worse. Cases surge, hospitals get overwhelmed, people die, and states and cities come down with even harsher measures.  First, the U.S. needs to buy time. Cases are rising rapidly, and New York seems to be center of a major outbreak. Goal one is to stop that trend with several more weeks of aggressive social distancing to reduce transmission. After cases drop, younger and healthier people could be allowed more freedom of movement.  Next comes testing, lots of it. The U.S. has failed badly here but a few weeks of aggressive case reduction could help it catch back up. Health workers need to find cases, even mild ones, isolate them, and break chains of transmission. That means potentially thousands of people hired to help trace patients' contacts and test and isolate them. Identifying people who are infected, or likely to be, means those that aren't can start going back to work.  Lastly, the U.S. needs to know who's immune already. Many cases are mild, and people who've already had the virus likely aren't at risk of infection again. Blood tests called serotyping can trace antibodies that indicate whether a person was infected, even if they were asymptomatic, and if their immune system is ready to recognize and repel the virus. Those people can get back to work as well. None of this is easy. "We need to take the magnitude of this seriously if we are serious about saving the economy," one expert told us. "There are no shortcuts." All that's at stake is millions of jobs, trillions of dollars in stocks, bonds and commodities, and thousands of lives.—Drew Armstrong   Track the virus   Mapping the Outbreak Around the World See the latest counts globally, and track Covid-19's spread in the U.S. Sponsored Content by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association One in five Americans living in rural areas lacks consistent access to the healthcare they need. See how Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are using their local roots to fill the rural health care gap.   What you should read China Eyes Danger of Symptom-Free Cases  Asymptomatic infections threaten to reignite coronavirus outbreak.  Billionaires, Doctors Square Off Over Lockdown Banking executives, airline leaders and others fear the shutdown's impact. Olympics Delay Deals Blow to Japan's Comeback  Games were hoped to crown the country's economic revival. Virus Creates a Cash Crunch for Doctors Medical practices face the same financial woes as other small businesses. India Bans Export of Virus Drug Trump Touted Malaria treatment chloroquine has seen a global run on supplies. Know someone else who would like this newsletter?  Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news?  Get in touch. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022