On April 24th, 2020, after five weeks of statewide lockdown, tattoo parlors, nail salons, and other select businesses in Georgia were permitted to reopen by Governor Brian Kemp (R). Governor Bill Lee (R) of Tennessee allowed restaurants to open at 50% capacity on April 27th, and retailers to open on the 29th. Certain beaches in Florida were opened as early as May 17th by Governor Ron DeSantis (R). DeSantis has boasted low numbers of infection comparative to the state’s overall population, a convenient statistic after an utter lack of adequate testing, on which it would be irrational to base further decisions.
Reopening a state without a clear procedure for testing and contact tracing is irresponsible, and could easily lead to many worse repercussions than the current decline of the economy. Health officials are under extreme pressure even in states where the economy has come to a complete halt, and restarting commerce would only add to that pressure. Additionally, one state must go through careful conference with its surrounding states before making any decisions- without the prohibition of domestic travel in the United States, even partially opening one state would endanger those at its borders. Furthermore, opening counties in shifts or with a small number of businesses at a time is difficult to enforce; the more people who feel the need to reopen their stores and services, the more customers will be leaving their houses, allowing for the spread of the virus.
