Business Group Launches COVID-19 ‘Shared Responsibility’ Campaign

The National Association of Manufacturers this week launched a campaign emphasizing the connection between COVID-19 public health practices and successfully reopening state and national economies.

“We need to get America back to work now and get our economy roaring again,” said NAM president and CEO Jay Timmons.

“The virus is spreading in a significant way, and if it continues, that will lead to economic devastation the likes of which we have never seen before.

“If everyone wears a mask outside the home, maintains social distancing with anyone other than the family unit, and practices appropriate hygiene procedures, we will get the tens of millions of unemployed Americans back to work.”

‘No Choice’

The NAM campaign reflects comments by other private and public sector officials, including Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.

“Keep a distance, wash your hands, wear a mask,” Powell said earlier this month.

“That’s really going to help. That goes with a faster reopening of the economy.”

“A resurgence of COVID-19 cases will cause more lasting damage than the original closure of the state’s economy.”

CBIA’s Joe Brennan

In an op-ed published in newspapers across Connecticut last month, CBIA president and CEO Joe Brennan called for everyone in the state to “do their part and wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands.”

“in the fight against COVID-19, we must think of ourselves as one community, doing everything we can for the sake of others,” he wrote.

“We really have no choice—a resurgence of COVID-19 cases will cause more lasting damage than the original closure of the state’s economy.”

U.S. Cases Surge

New U.S. coronavirus cases surged in the last two weeks, with the number of national cases now at the highest level in two months.

Connecticut is one of a handful of states where case numbers continue to decline, a trend attributed to the broad adherence to public health guidelines.

Updated-Tri-state governors, NY, NJ, CT, announce quarantine for out-of-state visitors https://t.co/4dCZlz4wN6 via @connpost #coronavirus #ctpolitics

— Ken Dixon (@KenDixonCT) June 24, 2020

The NAM campaign, which launched June 23, will feature in a number of states.

“Through shared responsibility, we can get this pandemic under control and save small businesses and jobs,” Timmons said.

“Our economy depends on it, jobs depend on it and—most importantly—lives depend on it.”