Reopening Plans

From USA Today:

“US reopening: Which states have relaxed restrictions? Find out what your state is doing”

Dozens of states have announced plans to relax social distancing restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus — but few have yet made major changes. Georgia has become a high-profile outlier after it set in motion aggressive plans to ease stay-at-home restrictions, over the objection of some local officials, and even President Donald Trump. Gov. Brian Kemp announced this week that gyms, tattoo parlors, hair and nail salons, massage therapists and other businesses could reopen. Restrictions on in-person religious services, restaurants and theaters were all also set to be relaxed. But most states have favored a slower, more gradual approach. Many announced in recent days a framework for reopening, often with tentative dates or benchmarks where restrictions may be relaxed. 

At the same time, a number of states are also making small moves to roll back the most severe restrictions. More states are again allowing elective surgeries. Some construction projects will resume. And plans to reopen parks and beaches are becoming more common. Leaders around the country have expressed concern that opening too soon could allow for a deadly second wave of virus spread, causing further damage to the United States' already battered economy. “Unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery, economically, is not going to happen,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top authority on infectious diseases, said. Trump, who announced guidelines April 16 for states to start opening their economies, is has pushed 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.

Here is a list of states making moves to roll back social distancing regulations. We will keep this file updated and other states will be added as measures are announced:

Alaska:     On April 24, Alaska began allowing restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to reopen, all with limitations, under an initial phase of a plan to restart parts of the economy. At least one city, Juneau, asked that business owners wait for local officials to weigh in. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and health officials have issued a number of health orders as a part of the phased Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan.

Arizona:     On April 22, Gov. Doug Ducey announced that hospitals and outpatient centers could resume elective surgeries on May 1, the same day a statewide stay-at-home is set to expire. That order could be modified, extended or expire at that time, Ducey said.

Arkansas:    Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced April 22 the state wold begin lifting restrictions on elective medical procedures beginning the following week. Decisions on whether to lift restrictions on restaurants, gyms, barbershops, beauty salons and large venues would also be announced at the end of April and into the first days of May, he said. Those decisions will come after the state conducts a two-day "surge" of testing in late April.

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.  Meanwhile, San Diego announced April 24 that beaches could reopen for various forms of exercise beginning at sunrise on April 27. Boardwalks, piers, and parking lots remained closed; gatherings were still banned and beachgoers should maintain social distancing and wear a face covering, the city said.

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.

Delaware:    Reopening the state will happen in phases, according to a April 23 statement from the Gov. John Carney. The state doesn't want to fully reopen its economy yet because it wants to avoid a resurgence in new cases. Reopening would start with opening up certain sectors such as restaurants, gyms, theaters and churches, while still requiring social distancing in those places. Schools and bars would likely not be among the first to reopen, and people would still be asked to work remotely if they can.

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. DeSantis has asked his state coronavirus task force for recommendations around late April on a plan for the first phase of reopening the state. Sarasota's beaches will reopen on a limited basis April 27.

Georgia:    Gyms, tattoo parlors, hair and nail salons, massage therapists and other businesses were allowed to reopen in Georgia on Friday, April 24, less than a month after the state forced them to close amid the coronavirus pandemic.  In-person religious services could resume over the April 25-26 weekend, and restaurants and theaters can reopen on April 27.

Idaho:   Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced on April 23 a four phase plan to begin on May 1 for restoring normal activity in Idaho. His stay-at-home order remains in effect until April 30. Little didn't say if that will be extended. Little’s plan will begin with similar conditions to his stay-at-home order with both public and private gatherings to be avoided. Churches and almost all retail shops could open as long as they follow strict physical distancing guidelines and other protocols.

Indiana:    Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said routine care like dentist's offices, abortion clinics, dermatology offices and veterinary clinics will be reopened on April 27, assuming things continue to move in a positive direction.  Holcomb's latest order went into effect on April 20 and ends on May 1. However, intermediate adjustments will likely be made on April 27. All of the policies regarding staying at home except for essential activities are still in place. The order begins a potential progression of easing restrictions on health care providers to perform elective procedures. The state banned elective procedures on March 23 in order to preserve providers' personal protective equipment, or PPE, and dedicate all resources to an expected surge of COVID-19 patients.

Iowa:   Gov. Kim Reynolds said on April 24 she will allow elective surgeries and farmers markets to open with some restrictions. She described it as a first step in a long process of reopening Iowa's economy.

Kentucky:   State officials described how a phased reopening of health care services in Kentucky will begin April 27. Providers will be able to resume nonurgent health care services, diagnostic radiology and lab services in clinics and medical offices, physical therapy settings, chiropractic offices, optometrists and dental offices. Gov. Andy Beshear has described cautious, phased plans to reopen places that have closed or restricted their activity. "We've got to do it smart, we've got to do it safe and we've got to do it gradual," Beshear said. "None of us want us to reopen our economy in a way that sets us back, causes a spike that means more people have died and keeps our economy closed for longer."

Louisiana:   Gov. John Bel Edwards will reveal details of the planned phase one May 1 reopening of the state as soon as April 27, but warned the easing of restrictions will be gradual and come with conditions. Edwards doesn't plan to extend the order, but instead replace it with a schedule of reopening the economy if the state continues to see its trajectory of cases, hospitalizations and symptoms stabilize and decline.

Maryland:   Gov. Larry Hogan said April 24 that Maryland could be ready by early May to begin phase one of its three-phase recovery process. Maryland isn't ready to lift restrictions right now, but the governor said he's optimistic. Phase one: Lifting the stay-at-home order, reopening many small businesses and restarting low-risk community activities. Phase two: Allow for a larger number of businesses to reopen, including restaurants and bars, with significant safety precautions in place. Phase three: Begin permitting larger events and lessening restrictions even further. “If we try to rush this and if we don't do it in a thoughtful and responsible way, it could cause a rebound of the virus, which could deepen the economic crisis, prolong the fiscal problems and slow our economic recovery,” Hogan said.

Michigan:    Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order April 24 that extended her stay-at-home edict past its May 1 expiration, but also alters it to relax some regulations. Among the changes, the order: Allows certain businesses that had been closed, like plant nurseries and bicycle repair shops, to reopen, but under social distancing guidelines. Permits some outdoor activities, including motorized boating and golf, to resume, though the use of golf carts still is prohibited. Says businesses which had been restricted or closed because they were deemed to provide nonessential items can reopen, but only for curbside pickup or delivery. And it allows large retailers to reopen certain parts of their stores, like their garden centers or paint sections.

Minnesota:  Some businesses will be able to reopen April 27 under an executive order signed April 23 by Gov. Tim Walz. The order will allow "industrial, manufacturing and office-based businesses that are not customer-facing to return to work beginning on Monday," with conditions, Department of Employment and Economic Development Steve Grove said during the conference. Another executive order closed schools in Minnesota through the end of the school year. Previously, on April 17, 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.

Mississippi:   Gov. Tate Reeves on April 24 issued a new executive order for Mississippians that he calls "Safer-at-Home," which allows most retail stores to open with certain guidelines, but keeps other businesses closed. "We are starting to reopen out economy," he said. "But we are not slamming the door wide open. It's not a light switch that you turn on and off. It's a dimmer." The new order takes effect at 8 a.m. April 27 and will remain in effect until May 11.  It will allow clothing, gift and other retail locations to open, but owners and managers must take precautions such as sending home sick employees, wearing masks in common areas, using proper sanitation procedures, providing hand sanitizer for customers and limiting the number of customers at any given time. Reeves said the businesses that won't be allowed to open are ones that generally involve close, interpersonal contact, such as movie theaters, museums, casinos, entertainment venues and gyms.

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.

Nevada:   Gov. Steve Sisolak on April 21 unveiled a framework to gradually restart the state’s economy — starting with gyms, certain restaurants and some outpatient surgery facilities, and working slowly toward casinos and other nonessential businesses first shuttered on March 17.  The first-term Democratic governor said he didn’t have a firm date when the first of those businesses can expect to reopen, a process he said would depend on the state’s progress toward an array of virus testing and containment criteria set by state and federal health experts.  Sisolak said Nevada schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year.

Nebraska:   Gov. Pete Ricketts announced on April 24 plans to loosen the state's coronavirus restrictions on May 4. Ricketts said he will relax restrictions in 59 counties, including Douglas, Sarpy and Cass in the Omaha area, but not Lancaster, which includes Lincoln. The new orders, which will be in effect until May 31, will allow restaurants in chosen counties to reopen their dining rooms with reduced occupancy and other restrictions.  Salons and tattoo parlors in those areas will be allowed to reopen as long as they prevent more than 10 people from gathering in one place. The state will also relax restrictions on day care centers in those regions, allowing up to 15 children per room instead of the current 10. Statewide, Ricketts said churches will be allowed to resume in-person services, weddings and funerals with some restrictions. Nebraska is one of the handful of states without a formal stay-at-home order, although many of the restrictions Ricketts imposed are similar.

New Mexico:    Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 22 presented criteria the state would use to determine if the state's hospital system had the capacity to allow business to resume in phases. Some non-essential businesses would reopen in the first phase while gatherings would still be prohibited. In subsequent phases, more business would be allowed to reopen while requirements for physical distancing and limits on gatherings would remain in effect. No dates have yet been set for when those phases may begin.

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 Carolina:   The state's stay-at-home order will extend through May 8, Gov. Roy Cooper announced April 23. When trends improve, the state will use a three-phase approach to gradually ease restrictions. "If our infections spike or our benchmark trends start to move in the wrong direction, we may have to move back to a previous phase to protect public health," Cooper said.  In phase one, a stay-at-home order remains in place, but people can leave home for more commercial activities (including shopping at certain retail stores). Among the other changes in the first phase: Gatherings would be limited to no more than 10 people but parks can open, subject to gathering limits.

North Dakota:    Trump said on April 18 that North Dakota "advised nonessential businesses to prepare for a phased reopening starting May 1." Burgum said April 21 the state plans to increase testing and contact tracing to protect residents and meet White House guidelines to put people back to work.

Ohio:   Gov. Mike DeWine announced on April 22 an easing up on the prohibition of elective surgeries during the coronavirus pandemic. DeWine said that doctors can now review postponed procedures and surgeries with patients in terms of their current health situation and quality of life, after which doctors and patients can make a joint decision about whether to proceed. On May 1, the state will implement a "gradual" plan to open, Gov. Mike DeWine said April 16. More details are expected in late April.

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 until 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.

Oregon:    Starting May 1, Oregon medical providers can resume non-urgent medical procedures, Gov. Kate Brown announced April 23. Brown had ordered providers to stop doing non-emergency procedures in an effort to preserve hospital space and protective gear like gowns, masks and gloves to care for COVID-19 patients. The move is what Brown calls a "step forward" as the state ponders loosening some restrictions meant to limit the spread of new cases of COVID-19.

Pennsylvania:    Gov. Tom Wolf announced on April 22 a three-phase, color-coded plan that will be used to reopen the state's counties in the coming weeks; select restrictions could be lifted in some areas as soon as May 8. He said several metrics will be used to move counties from red, yellow or green status. "Red, obviously, is the phase we are in right now," Wolf said. "The move to yellow and green will be data-driven, evidence-based decisions. Right now we are looking at counties that have under 50 cases per 100,000 individuals over the course of 14 days to return to work." Wolf said the move to yellow would lift stay-at-home restrictions in favor of aggressive mitigation and would open in-person retail, although curbside and delivery is preferable. Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities and all entertainment would remain closed. Restaurants and bars would be limited to carryout and delivery. Wolf also announced that he will reopen construction in the state beginning on May 1, moved up from May 8. After state liquor stores were closed in March, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is now allowing select stores to offer curbside delivery. Previously Wolf signed a bill to allow online notary services so online auto sales can resume.

Rhode Island:    Gov. Gina Raimondo on April 22 announced  plans to roll out a staged reopening of parks and beaches in the coming weeks, citing encouraging virus statistics. “It is my hope that we will be able to enjoy our parks and beaches in some form or fashion in the month of May,” she said. Raimondo vowed to restart the economy and ease restrictions as soon as possible, but safely so the state does not end up “back in this mess.”

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:   Restaurants in Tennessee will be allowed to open April 27 for dine-in service with reduced capacity, Gov. Bill Lee announced.   Lee, who has said he will not extend a statewide stay-at-home order past April 30, also announced that retail stores will be permitted to reopen on April 29. Both types of businesses must initially limit the number of customers to 50% of their regular capacity. The state will release additional guidance those stores and restaurants must follow in order to reopen. The all-clear to reopen those businesses next week does not apply to Tennessee's largest cities, including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and others, where local authorities are determining their own reopening plans.

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.  The state will reopen “massive” amounts of businesses soon, Abbott said April 22, teasing an imminent return of hair salons and restaurant dining. State parks reopened and nonessential surgeries also resumed this week; retailers were allowed to sell items curbside. Abbott says more relaxed restrictions are coming on April 27.

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:  Gov. Phil Scott said on April 24 he will allow small crews of five workers or less to work outdoors or in unoccupied structures. Scott is also allowing manufacturing and distribution businesses to open with a maximum of five employees or fewer staying six feet apart. Outdoor garden centers and greenhouses will also be allowed to open with some restrictions. For businesses that are already open using curbside service, Scott asked them to continue to operate with the minimum number of people. On April 17, Scott announced plans to reopen some businesses  – under restrictions – on April 20. Farmers markets can reopen in limited capacities, starting May 1.

Virginia:   Gov. Ralph Northam on April 24 announced a phased reopening plan. Northam said the administration is monitoring several key data points to inform their decisions. During the first phase, social distancing will continue, teleworking will be encouraged and the state will still recommend wearing face coverings in public.  Northam plans to ease restrictions in all regions of the state at the same time.

Washington:   Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on April 24 announced a plan that allows existing construction projects to resume as long as strict coronavirus social distancing protocols are in place. Previously, Inslee had said the state will not be able to lift many of the stay-at-home restrictions implemented to fight the coronavirus by May 4 — the date through which the current directive is currently in place — but that he hoped health modeling in recent days would allow resumption of some activities.

West Virginia:   West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on April 24 rolled out aggressive steps to reopen daycares and restaurants without setting specific benchmarks on testing, equipment and coronavirus tracking. The strategy comes days after he announced hospitals will resume elective procedures as early as next week.

Wyoming:   Certain businesses can potentially begin reopening in the weeks ahead, Gov. Mark Gordon announced on April 23. State officials meanwhile unveiled a system of stoplight colors for informing the public about prevalence of the virus and hospital capacity to handle severe cases. Orders closing schools and businesses ranging from bars and dine-in restaurants to nail salons have been in place in Wyoming since March 19.

^ The majority of these plans seem doable. The question now is to see if Americans will actually follow the rules (especially limits on people and social distancing) so that more and more things can open around the country. ^

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