Which States Are Reopening, And Which Are Not?

As Connecting the Dots has noted previously, while the U.S. government has provided ample guidance about actions governors should take in the face of COVID-19, it is the chief executives in each state who will decide when to open their respective state’s economy. Last week several more U.S. states, including Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Texas announced plans to reopen sectors of their economy.

The New York Times is tracking state reopening orders here. Additionally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) has developed an Essential Workforce Tracker for monitoring state orders impacting critical infrastructure and critical functions. Thomas has a list here.  (Thomas also is tracking all state tax relief and loan programs available to small businesses. Click here to review that information.)

In the face of these state reopening orders, the Trump administration decided not to extend national recommendations for stay at home and social distancing orders.

To attempt to guide states’ decisions, on April 22, the National Governors Association (NGA) released its Roadmap to Recovery: A Public Health Guide for Governors. This document outlines ten key steps and related operational considerations for governors to guide critical decisions in support of the public’s health and well-being in the weeks and months ahead. Like federal guidance, the NGA’s document is merely a suggestion for governors to take into account.