Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday his state would not cooperate with any potential national economic lockdowns to curb the spread of coronavirus, a new report said.
Reeves was responding to recent comments made by an advisor to President-elect Joe Biden that the US could manage the pandemic by locking down small to medium sized businesses for up to six weeks.
The governor, in a Facebook Live video, called the lockdown idea by Dr. Michael Osterholm “totally and completely beyond reasonableness,” the Mississippi Clarion Ledger reported.
“The people of Mississippi can’t just go home and shut down their small businesses … for six weeks, and just think that you can come back six weeks from now, flip a switch and everything’s gonna be fine,” Reeves said.
Reeves said state and local governments should combat the coronavirus, with federal support.
“I don’t believe there is any constitutional or statutory authority for any president to shut down Mississippi’s economy,” he said. “We will certainly fight that if it becomes necessary.”