Governors announce plans to open states, one day after Trump sets out guidelines

Governors across the U.S. are wasting little time lifting coronavirus restrictions one day after President Trump issued guidelines to reopen states – with Texas on Friday announcing plans to allow retail shopping and Minnesota allowing such outdoor activities as golfing, hunting and fishing to resume. 

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced several changes including state parks unlocking their gates Monday and doctors and hospitals being allowed Wednesday to conduct elective surgeries. 

Stores will be allowed to open their doors April 24, under what Abbott called his “retail-to-go” program. 

Still, Abbott advised residents to continue with health-safety measures including wearing masks and said schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year.

“We have demonstrated we can corral the coronavirus,” Abbott said before warning, “In opening Texas, we must be guided by data and by doctors.”

Trump on Thursday laid out a three-step plan to help Americans get back to work and resume some everyday activities, amid signs the coronavirus is peaking in the U.S. 

Still, Trump told governors that they will make the final decisions, as they weigh infection concerns with trying to revive their local economy and the national economy – which has shed roughly 22 million jobs in the past four weeks. 

Widespread plans to reopen states are tempered by concerns about whether enough testing is in place to lift restrictions.

In Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Friday that golf courses could reopen as soon as Saturday morning. The governor also said such activities as boating, fishing, hunting could soon resume. 

In Vermont, a state with just 12,116 reported coronavirus cases, GOP Gov. Phil Scot said Friday that some businesses could reopen by Monday, but under tight health-safety restrictions. 

In Florida, Duval County, which includes the city of Jacksonville, opened its beaches to exercises Friday night.

Despite saying governors will call the shots on reopening, Trump on Friday, in a series of tweets, pressed Democratic governors in three states to ease coronavirus restrictions, tweeting, “Liberate Minnesota!,” Liberate Michigan!” and “Liberate Virginia.”