These 4 Republican states are ignoring Trump’s reopening guidelines

What happens when the coronavirus is prevalent and you send people out anyway?

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="We’re on the verge of finding out, thanks to some Republican-controlled states that are willing to serve as reopening guinea pigs. The governors of Georgia, South Carolina and Alaska are allowing some businesses to reopen this week, as long as they follow distancing and sanitary guidelines. Tennessee will allow many businesses to reopen May 1. Florida and several other states are working on reopening plans.” data-reactid=”17″>We’re on the verge of finding out, thanks to some Republican-controlled states that are willing to serve as reopening guinea pigs. The governors of Georgia, South Carolina and Alaska are allowing some businesses to reopen this week, as long as they follow distancing and sanitary guidelines. Tennessee will allow many businesses to reopen May 1. Florida and several other states are working on reopening plans.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="None of those states meets the Trump administration guidelines for reopening businesses. Those guidelines say, among other things, that a state must have a declining trajectory of coronavirus cases for 14 days straight before reopening. If the number rises for a single day, the clock resets and the 14-day countdown starts over again.” data-reactid=”18″>None of those states meets the Trump administration guidelines for reopening businesses. Those guidelines say, among other things, that a state must have a declining trajectory of coronavirus cases for 14 days straight before reopening. If the number rises for a single day, the clock resets and the 14-day countdown starts over again.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Yahoo Finance analyzed raw data on state-by-state test numbers collected by the Covid Tracking Project for the four states planning to reopen, through April 21. &nbsp;” data-reactid=”19″>Yahoo Finance analyzed raw data on state-by-state test numbers collected by the Covid Tracking Project for the four states planning to reopen, through April 21.  

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Alaska saw an increase in new daily cases from 2 on April 20 to 8 on April 21. The number is relatively small, but according to the Trump guidelines, the 14-day countdown should have started over on April 21, making the earliest possible reopening date May 5, as long as the case count drops consistently till then.” data-reactid=”20″>Alaska saw an increase in new daily cases from 2 on April 20 to 8 on April 21. The number is relatively small, but according to the Trump guidelines, the 14-day countdown should have started over on April 21, making the earliest possible reopening date May 5, as long as the case count drops consistently till then.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Georgia had an increase in the number of daily confirmed cases from 646 on April 20 to 934 on April 21. Its earliest possible reopening date should be May 5.” data-reactid=”21″>Georgia had an increase in the number of daily confirmed cases from 646 on April 20 to 934 on April 21. Its earliest possible reopening date should be May 5.

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<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The data for South Carolina are a bit sketchy, because there were 0 new daily cases on April 20 and several other dates. But that’s probably a reporting lag or irregularity. For dates with numbers, there were 103 new cases on April 15; 275 on April 17; 315 on April 18; 131 on April 19; and 62 on April 21. If those numbers are legit, the recent peak was April 18, which would make the earliest possible reopening date May 2.” data-reactid=”33″>The data for South Carolina are a bit sketchy, because there were 0 new daily cases on April 20 and several other dates. But that’s probably a reporting lag or irregularity. For dates with numbers, there were 103 new cases on April 15; 275 on April 17; 315 on April 18; 131 on April 19; and 62 on April 21. If those numbers are legit, the recent peak was April 18, which would make the earliest possible reopening date May 2.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="In Tennessee, the recent peak was 308 new cases on April 19. It dropped to 168 and then 156 during the next two days. So the appropriate reopening date would be May 3 if the downward trend remains unbroken. That’s only two days later than the governor plans to reopen—but he’s not making reopening contingent on a downward trajectory.” data-reactid=”34″>In Tennessee, the recent peak was 308 new cases on April 19. It dropped to 168 and then 156 during the next two days. So the appropriate reopening date would be May 3 if the downward trend remains unbroken. That’s only two days later than the governor plans to reopen—but he’s not making reopening contingent on a downward trajectory.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="In Florida, the number of new cases rose from 664 on April 20 to 835 on April 21. The curve is not descending, yet Gov. Ron DeSantis has hinted he wants to lift stay-at-home orders soon. Jacksonville has already reopened its beaches.” data-reactid=”35″>In Florida, the number of new cases rose from 664 on April 20 to 835 on April 21. The curve is not descending, yet Gov. Ron DeSantis has hinted he wants to lift stay-at-home orders soon. Jacksonville has already reopened its beaches.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The Trump guidelines aren’t binding, and states are free to ignore them, as these four are. But the guidelines are meant to reduce the odds of a resurgence in infections that forces business closures all over again and possibly causes panic among workers who feel employers are jeopardizing their safety by forcing them back to crowded workplaces where they could get sick. One missing piece of a careful reopening plan is widespread testing that lets employers identify those who carry the virus, and send them home so they can’t infect others. The United States is doing about 150,00 tests per day, but experts say it will take 3 to 20 times that number to effectively screen people and contain the virus with confidence.” data-reactid=”36″>The Trump guidelines aren’t binding, and states are free to ignore them, as these four are. But the guidelines are meant to reduce the odds of a resurgence in infections that forces business closures all over again and possibly causes panic among workers who feel employers are jeopardizing their safety by forcing them back to crowded workplaces where they could get sick. One missing piece of a careful reopening plan is widespread testing that lets employers identify those who carry the virus, and send them home so they can’t infect others. The United States is doing about 150,00 tests per day, but experts say it will take 3 to 20 times that number to effectively screen people and contain the virus with confidence.

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