U.S. News

States Across America Rush to Reopen Nonessential Business During Pandemic

Experts Warn of Deadly Consequences

Editor-in-Chief Eve Austin

Several states, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Florida, and Georgia are expediting restriction deadlines on non-essential activities. A lack of testing, contact tracing, and guidance from the federal government has left states clueless to improvise their own safety measures--or lack thereof.

South Carolina’s governor released an executive order this week reopening non-essential department stores and retailers. At the same time, according to projections made by the U.S health department, the state should expect more than 8,000 confirmed cases by early May.

On April 20th, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) explained his decision to reopen tanning salons, barber shops, massage parlors and bowling alleys, saying: “I see the terrible impact of covid-19 on public health as well as the pocketbook.” With this, Kemp said he will urge businesses to screen for fevers, space workstations, and have workers wear gloves and masks-- “if appropriate.”

Kemp’s reference to the impact on the state’s “pocketbook” is very true. Economic losses for most states are in the 10’s of billions or higher. Fiscally, it makes perfect sense to reopen non-essential business, but health experts fiercely warn that this crisis is far from over, and reopening economies are going to come hand-in-hand with a wave of resurgences and repeated shutdowns. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that “a second wave of infections next winter would be even more devastating because it would coincide with the flu season.”

Jeremy Konyndyk, who was in charge of U.S. foreign disaster assistance during the Obama administration, feels like President Trump is pushing responsibility onto state governors to decide safety measures in order to save his reputation. If all goes well, Trump seems like a great leader. If deaths surge, he can’t be held responsible. “It might be a clever and effective political strategy, but it leaves our country without any way to pull itself out of the current mess,” said Konyndyk.

In line with this nonchalant rhetoric from President Trump, many governors are claiming that reopening their economies is a measure in state rights and an exercise of American freedom. South Dakota Governor Noem calls the nationwide shutdown “a little bit of security” and says that American’s are giving up their liberties by quarantining.

Epidemiological models show that the best strategy for keeping the death toll down is to allow time for the number of infections to get as low as possible before restarting economic activity. That would then provide time for the health system to prepare for small resurgences.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the welfare of our citizens or the economy. These upcoming reopenings prove that the interests of the wealthy and secure come before the lives of our most vulnerable.