Easing States

From USA Today:

“US reopening: What states are relaxing social distancing restrictions and moving away from lockdowns?”

Across the U.S., states will be watching Georgia – which becomes the first to reopen some businesses on Friday – as others set in motion plans to gradually ease stay-at-home restrictions enacted to thwart the coronavirus.  Yet, some local officials, and even President Donald Trump, have opposed the most aggressive plan in the country set in motion by Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump said Wednesday that he disagreed "strongly" with the decision and that it was "just too soon" for the state to allow some businesses to reopen. Kemp responded by saying the "measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials." Such a swift reopening runs counter to the advice of many experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top authority on infectious diseases, who has warned that resuming business too soon risked a fresh spike in infections “Unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery, economically, is not going to happen,” Fauci said. Oklahoma and Montana have also issued aggressive plans that will see some businesses and churches open by the start of next week. Trump, who announced guidelines April 16 for states to start opening their economies. is pushing to relax the U.S. lockdown by May 1, a plan that hinges partly on more coronavirus testing. Several states announced plans to coordinate their response with neighbors: California is moving forward in coordination with Washington and Oregon; governors from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island announced plans to form a joint task force. “I get the political pressure that local officials are under,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. “We can’t make a bad decision. Frankly, this is no time to act stupidly. Period. I don’t know how else to say it.”

Here is a list of states making moves to roll back social distancing regulations. We will keep this file updated:

Alaska:    On April 22, Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a health mandate that allows restaurants, stores, personal care services such as hair and nail salons and other non-essential businesses to open April 24.

California:    Gov. Gavin Newsom said April 22 that California was not prepared "to open up large sectors of our society" but made the first modification to the state's stay-at-home order with the resumption of "essential" surgeries. “Tumors, heart valves, the need for people to get the kind of care they deserve," Newsom said. "If it’s delayed, it becomes acute. This fundamentally is a health issue.” The guidelines became effective immediately.

Colorado:   One week before the state's stay-at-home order lifts April 27, Gov. Jared Polis announced the next phase, called "safer at home": The goal is for Coloradans to maintain 60%-65% social distancing, and vulnerable residents should continue to shelter in place. Polis said the state will work with non-essential businesses on guidelines to phase in reopening beginning May 1. Personal services – such as hair salons, dog groomers and tattoo parlors – can reopen with strict guidelines in place. Retail can open for curbside April 27; there will be phased-in opening for in-person operations beginning May 1. Gyms remain closed. Schools will remain closed, and bars and restaurants will not immediately reopen.

Florida:   Gov. Ron DeSantis gave some municipalities the green light April 17 to reopen beaches with restricted hours for walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets and surfing. In Jacksonville, people enthusiastically flocked to beaches when they reopened, drawing criticism on social media. DeSantis said schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year. On April 20, he also announced a “Re-Open Florida Task Force,” whose executive committee includes 22 elected officials and corporate executives, such as president of Walt Disney World Resort Josh D’Amaro and CEO of Universal Orlando Resort John Sprouls. The task force will hold a daily conference call until April 24, by when it expects to issue a report with recommendations. Sarasota's beaches will reopen on a limited basis April 27.

Georgia:   On April 21, Gov. Brian Kemp said he was allowing certain businesses to reopen on April 24, including gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, barbers, cosmetologists and massage therapists. Georgia’s timetable is one of the most aggressive in the nation. “Each of these entities will subject to specific restrictions, including adherence to the basic minimum operations, social distancing and regular sanitation,” Kemp said. Bars, nightclubs and entertainment operations will remain closed, but restaurants and theaters will be able to reopen April 27.

Idaho:   Trump said on April 18 that Idaho would be phasing in a reopening for nonessential businesses on May 1.

Louisiana:   Gov. John Bel Edwards said April 21 that after the statewide stay-at-home order lifts April 30, he will likely ease some restrictions. He said there will be transitional requirements such as continued social distancing, limited occupancy and face masks. Edwards didn't cite specific details. "I don't want people to have unrealistic expectations when the stay-at-home order goes away whether it's May 1 or not that everything will go back to the way it was," Edwards said.

Minnesota:    On April 17, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order that reopened outdoor recreational businesses, including golf courses, bait shops, public and private marinas and outdoor shooting ranges. The order went into effect the following day and requires residents to adhere to social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The order came a little more than two weeks before Walz's stay-at-home mandate is set to expire May 4. All indoor recreational facilities must remain closed until then.

Montana:    On April 22, Gov. Steve Bullock announced a phased reopening plan that allows church services to resume April 26 and retail businesses on April 27 "if they can adhere to requirements to limit capacity and maintain strict physical distancing." Restaurants, casinos, bars, breweries and distilleries can open May 4 with limited capacity. Schools will can return to "in-classroom teaching delivery at the discretion of local school boards" on May 7.

New York:    On April 18, New York joined Connecticut and New Jersey in opening up their marinas, boatyards and boat launches for recreational use. The state updated its guidance for golf courses, opening the door for public and private courses to open. Golfers will have to walk the course and carry their own bags without a motorized cart, according to Dani Lever, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's communication director.

North Dakota:    Trump said on April 18 that North Dakota "advised nonessential businesses to prepare for a phased reopening starting May 1."

Ohio:   On May 1, the state will implement a "gradual" plan to open, Gov. Mike DeWine said April 16. DeWine said the plan is being finalized with business leaders and advisers. It will start with businesses able to incorporate social distancing, cleaning protocols and other measures to reduce spread of the virus.

Oklahoma:   Gov. Kevin Stitt enacted a plan called "Open Up and Recover Safely" April 22 that allows personal care businesses to open April 24 by appointment only. These include hair salons, barber shops, spas, nail salons and pet groomers and must follow sanitation and social distancing guidelines. Customers are encouraged to wait in their cars intol the time of their appointments. Churches will open May 1 "if they leave every other row or pew open" and follow social distancing measures. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and tattoo parlors (by appointment only) can also open May 1.

Pennsylvania:   Gov. Tom Wolf, who has extended the state's stay-at-home order until May 8, signed a bill to allow online notary services so online auto sales can resume. He also said that limited construction will be allowed at that time.  In the coming days, the governor said he will be working on guidelines for moving forward with reopening regions and businesses, starting on May 8. Wolf warned that operations will not resume as they were in February.

South Carolina:    Gov. Henry McMaster announced a plan April 21 called "Accelerate South Carolina" to "stomp on the gas" and reopen certain sectors of the economy. Clothing, department, furniture, jewelry and sporting goods stores, as well as florists and flea markets can reopen but will be forced to operate at reduced capacity. The closure on beaches will be lifted, though it will be up to local officials to decide on the reopening of specific beaches. The order still encourages social distancing directives to be followed. Barber shops, beauty salons, bingo halls, gyms and nightclubs must remain closed for now.

Tennessee:    Gov. Bill Lee announced April 20 that his stay-at-home order will not be extended past April 30, and that some businesses around the state will begin reopening.   "For the good of our state, social distancing must continue, but our economic shutdown cannot," Lee said. A governor-appointed, 30-member economic recovery group is working with industry leaders to ensure that some businesses can reopen as early as April 27.

Texas:    Gov. Greg Abbott announced executive orders April 17 that will ease some of the restrictions on retail stores and parks, but he said all schools, public and private, will remain closed for the rest of the school year. Abbott said all stores in Texas will be able to operate retail-to-go beginning April 24. They can deliver items to customer’s cars, homes or other locations. State parks reopened April 20 and nonessential surgeries also resumed then.

Utah:   As the state's "Stay Safe, Stay Home" directive is set to expire May 1, Gov. Gary Herbert allowed elective surgeries to resume April 22, the first step toward easing restrictions in Utah. Herbert also outlined plans to gradually open up businesses in the early May. The "Stay Safe, Stay Home" directive is merely a suggested guideline and is not mandated.

Vermont:    On April 17, Gov. Phil Scott announced plans to reopen some businesses  – under restrictions – on April 20. Farmers markets can reopen in limited capacities, starting May 1.

West Virginia:    Though he announced that schools would remain closed for the rest of the academic year, Gov. Jim Justice issued an executive order April 20 that allows health care facilities to resume "more urgent elective medical procedures" no earlier than April 28. It's the first measure the state has taken to gradually reopen since it went under a stay-at-home order March 24. “If we continue down this path for very much longer, there is a real, real possibility that the engine won't start back,” Justice said. “Or, the engine won't start back in a way that will assure us to not drift into not a recession – but the possibilities of a depression.”

^ Hopefully the lifting of these restrictions along with Social Distancing will work and more places can open-up. I have the feeling that some people won’t follow the rules (about Social Distancing, etc.) and will ruin it for everyone. ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/04/19/coronavirus-lockdown-reopening-states-us-texas-florida/5155269002/