Reopenings are taking place across the United States as most governors ease harsh restrictions put into place to try to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
The new virus, which originated in China, causes the potentially deadly disease COVID-19.
This post was last updated May 14. For more recent updates on reopenings, click here.
Alabama
Restaurants, bars, and breweries reopened May 11 with limited seating and other social distancing guidelines under relaxed restrictions from Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.
Gyms and athletic facilities were also allowed to reopen, as were barbershops, salons, and other businesses where close contact is difficult to avoid.
The limit on social gatherings was removed, opening the door to large church services.
Ivey let some businesses welcome back customers last month under an altered stay-at-home order.
Alaska
Bars, theaters, and gyms reopened in Anchorage on May 11, two days after retailers, personal care services, gyms, bars, libraries, and museums reopened across the state.
Capacity limits were placed on most businesses.
Gatherings of up to 50 people are now allowed.
Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy allowed some sectors of the economy to begin reopening on April 24, including retailers, barbers, nail salons, and hairdressers.
Arizona
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday he’s letting his stay-at-home order expire on May 15.
Gyms and swimming pools can reopen on May 13, Ducey said.
Restaurants welcomed customers back inside for dine-in service on after a week of preparation and retailers did the same last week.
Retailers were able to welcome customers inside on an expanded basis starting May 8, with some social distancing measures in place.
Elective surgeries restarted on May 1.
Arkansas
Reopening plans for bars will be announced May 18, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday, while decisions on summer camps and youth sports will come two days later.
Hutchinson is letting large venues like arenas and stadiums and casinos reopen on Monday with one-third capacity.
Indoor venues including bowling alleys and movie theaters can also reopen but must have no more than 50 people inside.
Restaurants, museums, and retailers remain closed for now.
Gyms, fitness centers, and athletic facilities started reopening on May 4, while barbershops, salons, tattoo parlors, and spas welcomed customers two days later.
State parks reopened on May 1.
California
Guidelines for restaurants to resume dine-in service were released on May 12, as were rules for malls and offices to reopen, according to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
But phase two cannot happen unless counties have no COVID-19 deaths in the previous two weeks and no more than one new CCP virus case per 10,000 residents in the past two weeks, among other metrics.
Certain counties can move through the reopening phases faster than others but they must meet criteria such as a specific daily rate of new cases and have a readiness plan that’s available to the public.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom let lower-risk businesses allowed to reopen on May 8, including non-essential manufacturing, childcare facilities, and retailers for curbside pickup.
Check here for live updates on developments in California.
Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park will reopen on May 27, officials announced on May 12, the same day as campgrounds at state parks reopened.
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis eased his stay-at-home order last month, letting retailers reopen with curbside service and real estate showings resume.
Barbershops, salons, and retailers welcomed customers back on May 1, while office work restarted at 50 percent capacity a few days later.
Polis hasn’t yet decided when restaurants can resume dine-in service.
Connecticut
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont last week released guidelines for businesses to reopen on May 20, when his extended stay-at-home order expires.
Personal care services can reopen then, along with retailers, offices, and restaurants.
Gyms and some other businesses will remain closed.
Primary schools won’t reopen for the rest of the school year while colleges and universities can start gradually reopening during the summer, Lamont said this week.
No date has been set for phase two of the reopening plan.
Delaware
Farmer’s markets are reopening on Friday, the state Department of Agriculture announced Monday.
Some beaches reopened over the weekend, including Lewes and Dewey Beach, and Rehoboth plans on reopening its boardwalk and beach on May 15.
Retailers reopened last week with the ability to serve customers using curbside pickup. Jewelry stores reopened and were allowed to serve customers by appointment only. Personal care services were allowed to reopen but can only offer services to workers who are employed by businesses deemed essential.
Democratic Gov. John Carney eased the restrictions as he extended his stay-at-home order through the end of the month.
“All Delawareans—myself included—are ready to get our economy going again. But our response to COVID-19 has been driven by the science since day one and will continue to be driven by the science,” Carney said in a statement.
District of Columbia
Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday extended the city’s stay-at-home order to June 8.
It was slated before to expire on May 15.
“Rushing to reopen can have tragic results,” Bowser said at a press conference.
Officials have said the first phase will only start after three metrics show a sustained decline: new daily CCP virus cases, reports of flu-like illnesses, and new cases inside nursing homes.
Florida
Broward and Miami-Dade counties can reopen on May 18, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.
The counties are lagging behind others in the state in the phased reopening because of high numbers of virus cases.
Phase one elsewhere started Monday.
Barbershops and salons reopened while restaurants and retailers welcomed customers back inside last week with capacity limits.
The start of phase two hasn’t been specified.
Georgia
Public swimming pools can reopen on May 14 as can summer camps, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday.
Restaurants can welcome more customers, including parties of up to 10 people.
Bars, nightclubs, live performance venues, and amusement parks will remain closed until the end of the month.
A slew of businesses began reopening on April 24, including restaurants, movie theaters, and bowling alleys, in one of the first reopenings in the country.
Kemp allowed his order to expire on April 30 but extended a state of emergency until June, with some restrictions remaining in place.
Hawaii
Businesses designated medium-risk could reopen as soon as May 25, Lt. Governor Josh Green said Monday.
That includes businesses like restaurants and salons.
Non-food agriculture businesses, auto dealerships, pet grooming services, childcare businesses, and repair services reopened last week, along with retail and repair services in shopping malls and observatories.
Democratic Gov. David Ige noted that some municipalities are keeping some or all businesses closed, including Maui County.
Stores in that county have no reopening date.
Ige’s stay-at-home order was extended last month to May 31. The altered order opened Hawaii’s beaches back up for exercise and allowed healthcare facilities to resume elective surgeries.
Idaho
Republican Gov. Brad Little plans to announce Thursday whether phase two of reopening will start soon.
Phase two is tentatively slated to start May 16. It includes allowing gatherings of less than 10 people, allowing restaurants to resume dine-in service, and letting salons and gyms restart operations.
Ninety percent of businesses in the state were allowed to reopen if owners wanted on May 1, according to Little’s office.
Houses of worship reopened, along with daycares, organized youth events, and camps.
Illinois
All four regions outlined in Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan are on track to move to phase three by May 29, the governor said at a press conference on May 11.
Illinois entered phase two on May 1. Some so-called non-essential businesses take customers’ orders and deliver them or have curbside pickup.
Pritzker’s stay-at-home order is in place through the end of May and some businesses such as restaurants are under harsh restrictions until at least late June.
The governor was speaking from home, where he is quarantined.
Indiana
Personal care businesses such as spas and barbershops reopened on May 11 by appointment only. Restaurants and bars could welcome customers back inside but only at 50 percent capacity.
The reopenings are part of phase two of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s plan.
Phase two started earlier this month with the reopening of retailers and commercial businesses, including any manufacturing companies deemed non-essential. Phase three is slated for May 24.
Casinos likely won’t reopen until June 14, the Indiana Gaming Commission said Thursday. That’s when phase four of the plan is scheduled.
Holcomb allowed his stay-at-home order to expire on May 1.
Iowa
Restaurants across the state can resume dine-in service on May 15 while personal care businesses like salons can welcome customers inside, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday.
Dentist offices, campgrounds, drive-in movie theaters, tanning facilities, and spas reopened on May 8 while restaurants, fitness centers, and retailers in most counties reopened at 50 percent capacity on May 1.
But some counties, due to high case counts, have kept strict restrictions in place until now.
Reynolds told reporters that Iowa has “seen significant progress” in the battle against the CCP virus.
A slew of other businesses, including bars, movie theaters, and bowling alleys, remain closed until May 27 or later.
Kansas
Plans for phase two of reopening will be announced later this week, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday.
Phase one started May 4 as restaurants across most of the state resumed full operations.
But many businesses remain closed including bars, nightclubs, non-tribal casinos, theaters, museums, fitness centers, gyms, salons, barbershops, and tattoo parlors.
The businesses, which can reopen in stage two, were not allowed to reopen because close contact “cannot be avoided,” the governor said previously,
Kentucky
An expanded reopening took place on May 11, with manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain companies; construction businesses; pet care grooming and boarding companies; and photography businesses able to resume operations.
Office work restarted at 50 percent capacity.
Bars can welcome customers back inside on July 1, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear announced over the weekend.
Beshear previously said restaurants can welcome patrons inside on May 22. Movie theaters and gyms can reopen by June 1, campgrounds can reopen by June 11, and childcare businesses and youth activities can resume on June 15.
Retailers were previously told they can resume business on May 20, as can churches with in-person services. Retailers can reopen on May 20. Barbers and salons can reopen on May 25.
Louisiana
Phase one of reopening will start on May 15, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards announced.
Restaurants will be allowed to restart dine-in service at 25 percent capacity.
Churches, gyms, and movie theaters can also open at 25 percent capacity, along with personal care services, some bars, casinos, museums, and zoos.
Edwards’ stay-at-home order is slated to expire on Thursday.
Stores were allowed to open for curbside delivery and restaurants were allowed to open outside areas for patrons to eat meals without tableside service on May 1.
Maine
Retailers were able to welcome customers inside in 12 counties with no community transmission of the CCP virus on May 11.
“With low case counts, no evidence of community transmission, and, now, expanded testing capacity, we believe it is appropriate to gradually lift some limitations on certain businesses in our rural counties with health and safety precautions to protect public health,” Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said at a press conference.
Businesses began reopening on May 1, including barbershops, hair salons, golf courses, state parks, auto dealerships, and car washes.
Houses of worship were allowed to hold drive-in services and drive-in movie theaters were allowed to welcome customers.
Phase two of reopening for most of the state isn’t scheduled until June 1.
Mills extended her stay-at-home order to May 31. The altered order requires everyone in the state who enters a public place where social distancing is hard to maintain wear a mask or face covering.
Maryland
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that his stay-at-home order will be lifted on Friday evening as the state shifts to a safer-at-home order.
“The fight against this deadly disease if far from over. But because of incredible courage you have shown and the extraordinary sacrifices you have made, Maryland, and our nation, can now at least begin to slowly recover,” Hogan said at a press conference.
Manufacturing deemed non-essential can reopen in phase one. Retailers and personal care services such as salons can welcome customers with capacity limits. Churches and houses of worship can resume services. Gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed.
Dine-in service in restaurants, gyms, and theaters will remain closed for now.
Some counties will not reopen Friday, officials signaled, including Howard and Montgomery counties.
Massachusetts
Businesses that can reopen in phase one will be ones that can welcome customers without spreading the CCP virus, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said on Wednesday.
“I would love to be able to open up everything tomorrow,” Baker said. “But that would be an incredibly irresponsible thing to do.”
Baker on Monday released a four-phase reopening plan but hasn’t committed to a start date for the first phase. Baker has said he wants to relax restrictions on May 18.
Phase one will see limited industries resume operations with “severe restrictions,” according to a slide Baker presented at a press conference. Phases two and three will let the additional businesses reopen.
Phase four won’t happen until the development of vaccines and/or therapies against the CCP virus.
Michigan
Auto supply companies and some other manufacturers can reopen on May 11 while General Motors and other car manufacturers can resume production the following Monday under eased restrictions from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer’s stay-at-home order was recently extended through May 28.
The altered order allowed construction workers, landscapers, and nursery workers, to resume work. Bicycle-focused businesses could also resume operations.
Whitmer said recently that the state is in the third of a six-phase reopening strategy. The start date for the fourth phase hasn’t been set.
Minnesota
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday that he’s letting his stay-at-home order expire on Sunday. He’ll replace it with another order that will ease some restrictions.
The new order will allow retailers to welcome customers back inside with capacity limits and for people to gather in groups of up to 10.
“We know the safest place we can be is at home, but we can’t continue like this forever,” he said at a press conference.
Restaurants and bars are closed to dine-in service until June 1. Personal care businesses like salons are also not allowed to reopen until then.
Walz previously let some businesses, primarily in industrial sectors, reopen.
Mississippi
Gyms, salons, and barbershops reopened on May 11.
“We are not doing this because there is no risk in you going there,” Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said at a press conference. “There is risk every single time you leave your home.”
Social distancing limitations include keeping at least 6 feet between customers.
Restaurants were allowed to welcome customers last week while retailers were allowed to reopen last month.
Missouri
One of the widest reopenings in the country took place on May 4 as every business in the state was allowed to reopen as long as people abided by social distancing requirements, Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, said at a press conference.
The main requirement is keeping 6 feet distance between an individual and people they don’t live with.
“We are successfully flattening the curve,” Parson said. “With the help of all Missourians, our plan is working. The health care system is not overwhelmed and we are winning the battle.”
Montana
Gyms, movie theaters, and museums can reopen on May 15, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said.
Restaurants and bars welcomed customers back inside on May 4.
Bullock let retailers and houses of worship reopen last month.
Students were allowed to return to schools on May 7, pending decisions by local school boards, in one of the earliest planned reopenings of schools in the nation.
Nebraska
Bars won’t reopen until June or later, Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts said on Tuesday.
“You have a lot of people in a bar so because that’s such a dense concentration of people, that’s why bars have been treated differently than restaurants,” he said at a press conference.
Ricketts allowed restaurants in some areas of the state to resume dine-in service on May 4. Like most states, occupancy was limited.
Some other businesses were also allowed reopen, including hair salons and tattoo parlors. Health-related businesses were allowed to reopen or expand services, such as dental work and veterinary services.
Nevada
Reopenings started on May 9 under an adjusted order from Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.
Restaurants, barbershops, hair salons, retailers, and car dealerships were able to reopen with limitations.
Sisolak previously extended his stay-at-home order through May 15 but altered restrictions to let retailers start conducting business via curbside pickup and delivery.
The slight relaxation lets people engage in outdoor activities like golf and tennis and attend drive-in services at houses of worship.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board said social distancing must be enforced in casinos when they reopen, including having no more than six players at tables.
New Hampshire
Retailers, hair salons, golf courses, and barbershops reopened on May 11.
“New Hampshire is definitely ready to take these first steps because they are just that, they are steps,” Republican Gov. Chris Sununu told WMUR. “We’ve looked at the data. We’ve been very cognizant of the trends.”
Restaurants can serve customers at outside tables starting May 18.
Campgrounds, manufacturing businesses, and state parks reopened on May 1 while hospitals could resume elective procedures on May 4 as Sununu’s stay-at-home order expired.
New Jersey
Construction work deemed non-essential and some retailers that were forced to shut down earlier this year can reopen on May 18, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.
Retailers will be forced to operate through a curbside pickup business model.
Murphy’s planned executive order will also permit drive-through and drive-in events if attendees follow strict social distancing guidelines.
Murphy has relaxed few restrictions apart from letting state and county parks reopen since announcing a stay-at-home order in March.
New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended the state’s emergency public health order to May 31.
The modified order lets retailers welcome customers back inside on May 16 and so-called non-essential businesses, such as those requiring offices, can also resume operations.
Gyms, salons, theaters, and other businesses remain closed until at least early June.
Grisham also announced that residents will be required to wear face coverings in public.
She previously allowed retailers to open for curbside pickup and delivery and dental work to resume. She also let gun stores reopen for sales by appointment, pet service businesses, and golf courses welcome customers, and state parks reopen for day use.
New York
Landscaping and gardening companies and drive-in theaters can resume operations on May 15, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday.
Outdoor, low-risk recreational activities like tennis can also resume statewide, he said.
Cuomo said several upstate regions can also enter phase one of his reopening plan.
Cuomo, who locked down the state on March 22, said the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and the Finger Lakes regions have met the metrics required to begin phase one.
“This is the next big step in this historic journey,” the governor said at a press conference.
Phase one of Cuomo’s plan includes letting retailers reopen with curbside pickup and the reopening of manufacturing and construction businesses. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing companies can reopen, along with wholesale trade operations.
North Carolina
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday that phase two of reopening will likely not start for at least two weeks.
Phase one started last week.
Retail stores deemed non-essential, such as clothing and sporting goods stores, were allowed to welcome customers inside.
Childcare services will be allowed to resume operations, but only for children of parents who are working or looking for work. Summer day camps can start but overnight ones cannot.
Phase two would see a limited reopening of restaurants and bars to inside service and the reopening of public playgrounds.
Further reopening would be at least one month down the road, Cooper has said.
North Dakota
Schools can reopen for summer programs starting June 1, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum said Monday.
He described in a statement the order as “a soft opening of school facilities.”
Restaurants, gyms, and personal care businesses were allowed to reopen in early May with capacity limits and social distancing measures.
Guidelines for recreation centers, athletic centers, music venues, and theaters were expected soon.
Ohio
Retailers reopened on May 12 and personal care services can reopen on Friday, along with outdoor dining at restaurants and bars.
Restaurants and bars can offer dine-in service on May 21, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said.
DeWine allowed manufacturing, construction, and distribution businesses to reopen on May 4, along with some office work, under his altered stay-at-home mandate.
The order was extended through May 29 after previously being set to expire on May 1.
Medical providers like dentists were allowed to resume non-essential surgeries last week.
Oklahoma
Phase two of reopening will likely start on May 15, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said on May 6.
Phase one started last month with the reopening of barbershops and other personal care businesses.
Restaurants, malls, and other stores began reopening on May 1.
Phase two will see nonessential travel resume as well as the resumption of organized sports.
Bars will be allowed to operate with limited occupancy and funerals and weddings can happen again.
Oregon
Twenty-eight of 33 counties have been approved for phase one of reopening, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday.
Brown said recently that counties can apply to enter phase one of reopening on May 15.
Phase one includes reopening restaurants and bars for dine-in service; personal care businesses reopening for appointments only; and gyms reopening.
Childcare businesses and summer camps can reopen statewide on Friday, Brown said.
“I’ve prioritized opening these sectors because childcare is absolutely essential to allowing parents to get back to work and because education is the bedrock of our society,” Brown told reporters.
State parks and ski resorts reopened earlier this month while elective procedures resumed.
Pennsylvania
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday threatened to cut funding for counties that move forward in reopening without his approval after a number of counties said they would do so.
“To those politicians who decide to cave in to this coronavirus, they need to understand the consequences of their cowardly act,” Wolf said at a press conference.
Wolf’s plan designates counties as red, yellow, or green. Red means counties still have a high number of new daily CCP virus cases and other metrics showing little improvement during the pandemic. Wolf extended his stay-at-home order for those counties until June 4.
He’s allowed some counties to move from red to yellow and listed others that will transition on May 15.
But leaders in some areas don’t like the strict control, arguing they’re ready to reopen faster than the plan allows.
Rhode Island
Restaurants can reopen for outdoor dining on May 18, said Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo, who lifted her stay-at-home order recently.
So-called nonessential retail stores were allowed to reopen as of May 9, along with offices. Hospitals could resume elective surgeries.
Churches and other houses of worship can hold services with five or fewer people and funerals can resume with up to 10 people.
Employers will have to screen employees and send those who are sick home. They must also require workers to wear masks if social distancing cannot be ensured.
Beaches and restaurants will not reopen until the second phase of the plan, which has not been set. Raimondo previously reopened state parks.
Residents must wear a mask or face covering in indoor and outdoor public places under an executive order that went into effect on May 8.
South Carolina
Restaurants across the state were allowed to offer dine-in service starting May 11.
So-called close-contact businesses including barbershops, hair salons, gyms, pools, and others are set to reopen in a limited capacity on May 18.
Restaurants throughout the state were allowed to provide outdoor service on top of the takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery services they were already providing when Republican Gov. Henry McMaster lifted his stay-at-home order.
Some businesses began reopening on April 20, one of the earliest reopenings in the nation.
Most beaches in the state are open again.
South Dakota
Any business that wanted to could reopen, Republican Gov. Kristi Noem announced in late April.
The state issued guidance on occupancy limits and employee screenings.
Schools were allowed to host small groups of students to “check in” with them before the end of the school year.
“The plan I am unveiling today continues to put the power of decision-making into the hands of the people—where it belongs. Today’s plan relies on South Dakotans continuing to exercise common sense, reasonableness, innovation, and a commitment to themselves, their families, and—in turn—their communities,” Noem said in a statement.
Tennessee
Nashville began letting some businesses reopen Monday, including retailers. Dine-in service is allowed in restaurants.
Bowling alleys, golf facilities, and other similar businesses resumed operations in most of the state on Friday.
Most businesses in much of the state were allowed to reopen on May 1 as Republican Gov. Bill Lee let his stay-at-home order expire.
Salons and barbershops were allowed to reopen on May 6.
Some counties were behind others in the phased reopening such as Davidson County, which includes Nashville.
Texas
Salons, barbers, and tanning businesses were resuming operations on May 8.
Gyms and bars can reopen as soon as May 18, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday.
Abbott previously let restaurants, malls, movie theaters, and retailers reopen and serve customers inside their buildings.
Abbott’s stay-at-home order expired on April 30.
Utah
All national parks in the state are expected to reopen by the end of May. Zion National Park was reopening Wednesday after Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef parks reopened.
Houses of worship began holding in-person services after a pause, including facilities run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert recently loosened restrictions to allow gatherings of up to 20 people.
Restaurants started serving customers inside stores on May 1. Gyms, salons, and some other establishments were also allowed to reopen.
Vermont
A gradual reopening of retailers will start on May 18 with social distancing restrictions, including capacity limits, Republican Gov. Phil Scott said Monday.
Golf courses, tennis courts, and other outside recreation facilities reopened on May 7.
Gatherings of up to 10 people were also be allowed, but elderly people shouldn’t attend.
Construction, distribution, and transportation companies with fewer than 10 people were allowed to resume operations on May 4. Scott let “low-contact” businesses reopen last month if they had no more than two staff members. The businesses could return to full operations on May 11.
Elective care procedures have been allowed to resume.
Virginia
A phased reopening for some parts of the state will start on Friday, but counties in northern Virginia will stay locked down for now.
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order Tuesday extending restrictions for areas just outside Washington to May 28 after local officials expressed concern about reopening this week.
“While the data show Virginia as a whole is are ready to slowly and deliberately ease some restrictions, it is too soon for Northern Virginia. I support the request from localities in this region to delay implementation of Phase One to protect public health,” Northam said in a statement announcing he was allowing some counties and towns to delay reopening.
Phase one of reopening will let retailers labeled nonessential reopen at 50 percent capacity. Restaurants can open outdoor seating and gyms can open outdoor spaces at 50 percent capacity. Houses of worship can welcome congregants at the same capacity limits. Salons, barbershops, and other personal care businesses can reopen but can serve customers by appointment only.
Northam on May 4 extended his stay-at-home order through May 14.
Phase one will last up to four weeks or even longer, according to state officials. Phases two and three are projected to last about three weeks each.
Washington
Eight counties have been allowed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee to enter phase two of reopening.
Inslee is dealing with each county differently, depending on the rate of CCP virus infections and other metrics.
Retailers were allowed to reopen statewide with curbside pickup last week while car dealerships, car washes, and mobile pet services could resume operation earlier in the month.
Phase two includes the reopening of all manufacturing businesses that were forced to close. Construction companies, domestic services, retailers, personal care services, and real estate companies can also resume operations. Restaurants can welcome customers back inside with capacity limits.
West Virginia
Drive-in movie theaters and wellness centers reopened Monday under phase three of Republican Gov. Jim Justice’s reopening plan.
Justice signed an executive order allowing the businesses to resume operations after state officials said they watched for data on the number of cases and hospitalizations.
Phase four is slated to start on May 21. That includes restaurants resuming dine-in service and large stores reopening.
Restaurants started offering outdoor dining service earlier in May. Small businesses with fewer than 10 employees were authorized to reopen.
Hospitals were allowed to resume elective procedures in April.
Wisconsin
The state Supreme Court on May 13 blocked the extended stay-at-home order, instead ruling to let businesses reopen immediately.
An unelected official, state Health Secretary Andrea Palm, extended the order on April 16 to May 26.
“This case is about the assertion of power by one unelected official, Andrea Palm, and her order to all people within Wisconsin to remain in their homes, not to travel and to close all businesses that she declares are not ‘essential’ in Emergency Order 28,” justices wrote.
“Palm’s order confining all people to their homes, forbidding travel, and closing businesses exceeded the statutory authority of Wis. Stat. § 252.02 upon which Palm claims to rely.”
People who violated the order cannot be criminally penalized, according to the majority decision.
Unlike most states, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has delegated to Palm to issue stay-at-home orders. The order in question is described as safer-at-home, or a looser version of a stay-at-home mandate.
Local governments can still issue their own restrictions.
Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park will reopen on a limited basis on May 18 while Grand Teton National Park reopened this week.
Republican Gov. Mark Gordon has let gyms, barbershops, salons, and tattoo parlors reopen, but hasn’t yet issued a date for when restaurants and bars can resume dine-in service.
Daycares have welcomed children back while hospitals resumed elective surgeries.
An order limiting public gatherings to no more than nine people was extended through mid-May while state campgrounds won’t be open until May 15.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s political affiliation. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
