Everything we know about the White House’s economic reopening plan

The plan lays out guidelines for a phased reopening of the economy to be implemented by states and governors. But there's something experts say is missing. [View in browser]( [Image]( APRIL 17, 2020 The White House announced guidelines for a phased reopening the U.S. economy, state by state, on Thursday. Unexpectedly, it didn’t involve specific target dates, like the May 1st ideal that President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent days. States and their governors would be responsible for deciding how to implement the federal guidelines. Before states can go through any phase, they must meet ‘gating’ criteria, including “downward trajectory” of documented cases and positive tests, and other guidelines about hospital preparedness. Once those are met, states can enter phase one, which includes the reopening of venues like places of worship, sporting arenas, and restaurants if they can adhere to social distancing guidelines. Phase two includes the reopening of schools and the resumption of non-essential travel. Phase three would include a staggered return to workplaces, and visits to nursing homes and hospitals could resume. Coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx further explained the phases [here](, and you can read about them in detail [here](. But experts identify one major pitfall in these plans: There’s no concrete plan for how states can expand [testing for COVID-19]( and contact tracing to track who is infected. Read the latest news on the fight against COVID-19 on [nbcnews.com/coronavirus]( IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [San Antonio Food Bank head: Demand is ‘unprecedented’]( Eric Cooper, president of the San Antonio Food Bank, tells Lawrence O'Donnell there is "unprecedented demand" for food banks across the U.S. As unemployment increases, Cooper says they now serve double as many people as they did before the coronavirus pandemic. Cooper is urging the public and private sectors to help meet the need of people "desperate for food." ([Last Word]() [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( ['Baghdad Don': Steve Schmidt blasts Trump for most inept response to 'any crisis in history']( Veteran strategist and former Republican Steve Schmidt argues President Trump has exhibited the most inept response of any president to any crisis in history. He argues the avoidable problems in the US response to the pandemic revealed Trump’s failures as a president, and why historians will look back on this as a time when a reality show star “New York Con man narrowly ended up as President and was not prepared.” ([MSNBC]() [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Trump reveals reopening guidelines with just 1% of the U.S. tested]( After saying he had 'total authority' over reopening the nation, Trump has now laid out guidelines for reopening he says states can follow as needed despite the fact there is still a huge lack of testing nationwide. ([11th Hour]() [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS Bronx ICU Director: 'We've had valued staff members die from this disease' ([Craig Melvin]() Raines: People must consider if Trump's COVID-19 policy is a danger to their children ([11th Hour]() One country, four ventilators: Coronavirus is impending disaster for world's poorest nations ([MSNBC](msnbc.com/hallie-jackson/watch/crisis-looms-for-world-s-refugees-82130501902)) Nursing home deaths should be obvious target of COVID-19 response ([Maddow]() Fmr. Amb. Power: WHO was late and overly deferential to China. So was Trump. ([Andrea Mitchell Reports]() Whitmer too focused on coronavirus crisis to consider VP hypothetical ([Maddow]() Dallas food bank faces long lines and low funds amid the coronavirus outbreak ([MSNBC]() Fmr. Sec. of State Albright: We can't change WHO if we're not at the table ([All In]() Only one GOP senator was left off President Trump’s bipartisan list on reopening the economy: Sen. Mitt Romney ([MTP Daily]() QUOTE OF THE DAY ["We look at a president who is so clearly in over his head and out of his depth, who has been dishonest, who has been imprecise, who’s been inaccurate, and whose deadly indecision will be paid for with the lives of tens of thousands of Americans, as this virus escalated to a place it never need have gotten."]( — Fmr. GOP strategist Steve Schmidt COMING UP ON MSNBC [Image] This Saturday, watch Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt, Lizzo, Billie Eilish and a cavalcade of stars join forces for "One World: Together At Home," a global entertainment special to support the World Health Organization and the global fight to end COVID-19. The event will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel. Watch Saturday at 8PM Eastern, right here on MSNBC. Tell us what you think. 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