Coronavirus Update: More than a quarter of states gear up to reopen as infection rates slow

U.S. lawmakers and state leaders continue to debate opening up their regions, as coronavirus numbers continue to trend downward.

Florida Gov, Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced a “phase 1” plan to reopen his state’s economy on Monday. The new rules will apply to everyone, except those in the three hardest hit areas of the southern state. Restaurants and other businesses will be able to operate at 25% capacity, while enforcing social distancing policies, though schools, hair salons and gyms will remain closed for now.

Also scheduled to reopen, in some capacity, this week and early next week are the states of Alabama, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, Iowa, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska, and South Carolina.

Residents of South Dakota threw their governor, Kristi Noem, a parade as a sign of appreciation for her refusal to shutter the state. Hundreds of cars organized themselves to drive past the governor’s residence. From the outset of the pandemic, Gov. Noem has refused to apply one-size fits all solutions to her state. South Dakota currently ranks 41st in the lineup of states with most coronavirus cases.

Earlier this week, the U.S. crossed the 1 million case coronavirus threshold, and as of Thursday, more than 60,000 Americans have lost their fight with the illness.

New York state continues to lead the country’s infection rate by a shocking margin, having recorded 18,000 deaths so far.

Recently, questions have begun to circle about how the state is handling the crisis when it comes to their most vulnerable populations.

Reports are emerging that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered nursing homes to admit coronavirus patients instead of sending them to several makeshift coronavirus hospitals, increasing the risk of spreading the virus among the state’s elderly population.

The U.S. has conducted over six million tests, surging past most other countries in terms of our per capita testing rate. The city of Los Angeles, announced yesterday, that it will now offer free coronavirus testing for all residents.