Topic: Lockdown Face

MSNBC host Chris Hayes argued that President Trump's failures directly led to the deaths of Americans and would continue to do so. In local news, a mayor proposed a 35-day total shutdown of schools and businesses to "reset" public behavior. The plan aimed to transition the city into a lower-risk phase where masks and social distancing would be strictly maintained until a vaccine became available.

A Johns Hopkins University analysis finds that lockdowns in Europe and the U.S. only reduced COVID-19 mortality by 0.2% on average. The study also concludes that shelter-in-place orders were largely ineffective. The hosts discuss the "about-face" by prestigious institutions and question the validity of mask studies that focused on employees rather than the general public.

Lubbock, Texas, is experiencing a significant increase in positive cases and hospitalizations, described by Governor Abbott as widespread community spread. The Governor emphasizes that mask-wearing is the final effort to avoid a secondary economic lockdown. Local officials, including Austin Mayor Steve Adler, support the mandate as a means to keep businesses and schools operational.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler and the City Council are considering a mandatory 35-day lockdown followed by a "lessons learned" period to combat a surge in coronavirus cases. One medical expert proposed either universal masking at all times or a total shutdown of all but big-box grocery stores. The plan aims to transition the city to "Stage 4 Orange" status to facilitate school reopenings in the fall, contingent on vaccine availability.