Since the enactment of the National Emergency Act in 1976, eight different presidents have held office and collectively declared 61 national emergencies when the health and safety of United States citizens was threatened by natural or man-made events. Of them, 27 expired, and 34 currently remain in effect, including President Trump’s emergency declaration over the COVID-19 pandemic in April. The declaration stipulated states’ rights to set up their own emergency action plans and establish categories of “essential” and “non-essential” industries.
In New York the construction and manufacturing industries reopened in May when statewide Covid-19 related hospitalizations declined. Those industries reopened by demonstrating the ability to plan safe work practices while complying with applicable CDC guidelines, including testing. In the fog of this nano-scale war, confusion continues around national testing as fears of a second wave of infection grow.