Coronavirus: Many US states start to reopen despite warnings of new outbreaks
- In those states taking a more moderate approach to allowing a resumption of business, governors face pressure from both outside and inside their borders
- Some communities that have been most effective in controlling the contagion are extending restrictions, not lifting them, but they are in the minority
On April 24, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was making headlines. Despite warnings from medical experts, pleas from his own state’s mayors and business leaders and even a rare rebuke from US President Donald Trump, the Republican state leader moved ahead with opening Georgia’s businesses including those where social distancing would be impossible, such as hair salons and tattoo parlours. Three days later, restaurants and theatres reopened.
While Kemp faced widespread criticism from across the political spectrum, just days later more American states are following suit, rushing to open their economies to varying degrees even as coronavirus testing lags, the number of people infected continues to rise and medical experts warn of potentially catastrophic new outbreaks.
On Thursday, more than 97 per cent of the US population remained under stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, but the next day brought a very different reality with that number set to drop dramatically.
According to White House guidelines, states should see a decline in infections for 14 straight days before reopening is even considered. Arguably, none have managed to meet that criteria, but still nearly half of all states introduced some degree of reopening on Friday.
