Most states and U.S. territories have now begun reopening at least parts of their economies. The reopening efforts purport to follow a three-phase White House plan, even though not many states have met the plan’s benchmarks, including a “downward trajectory” in coronavirus cases. The White House guidelines are not mandatory. Rather, they advise governors to take a state-wide or county-by-county approach to analyzing the progress made in combating the coronavirus hotspots and permitting economic and social activity accordingly. Easier said than done. Reopening is proving challenging as leaders across the country are weighing health, economic, and political ramifications of opening too soon, too quickly, or not soon enough. At a congressional hearing last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that reopening too quickly poses “a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control.”
Our colleagues have prepared a thoughtful article that considers the roles both state and local officials have in determining the pace and approach at which to reopen. Read the full article here.
