The Trump administration has not advised states to order residents to stay home, to the extent possible, to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, but more than 30 states have done so anyway. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order Tuesday that he said is “very close to” a statewide “stay-at-home” regime, calling it instead an “essential services and activities only” order. Florida, with a large elderly population and 6,741 confirmed COVID-19 cases plus 85 deaths as of Wednesday morning, has so far declined to join in the mandatory social distancing…

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert on the White House task force, tiptoed up to advising all governors to order lockdowns in an interview with NBC’s Samantha Guthrie on Tuesday night. “Stay-at-home orders,” he said, “they’re kind of complicated for people to really adhere to,” but “what every single state should do in this country is very strictly follow the guideline groups,” including “no unnecessary travel, telework when you possibly can, no crowds more than 10 people, six feet away from individuals.”

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, suggests Florida step up its efforts.