3 Southern states move to reopen businesses

South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee take moves toward reopening, but health officials worry they could spark new outbreaks.

By

National News

April 21, 2020 - 9:11 AM

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks next to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during a press briefing on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic with members of the Coronavirus Task Force. Photo by Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS

Several Southern states moved on Monday to lift stay-at-home orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic, even as top federal health officials warned that too abrupt a reopening could spark new outbreaks of disease.

South Carolina and Georgia made the most aggressive pitches to return life to normal.

In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster allowed beaches to open and said florists and furniture stores could do business by Monday evening.

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said gyms, salons, bowling alleys and other businesses would reopen on Friday. Kemp also said he would release guidelines this week that would let restaurants —but not bars or clubs —open in a week.

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