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| More US states begin lifting virus lockdown orders | More US states begin lifting virus lockdown orders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More US states are beginning to lift lockdown orders even as US leaders say social distancing guidelines will be necessary throughout the summer. | More US states are beginning to lift lockdown orders even as US leaders say social distancing guidelines will be necessary throughout the summer. |
| But governors warn that life will not quickly return to normal, and that restrictions will remain in some places to keep the virus from resurging. | But governors warn that life will not quickly return to normal, and that restrictions will remain in some places to keep the virus from resurging. |
| On Friday, the US saw its largest single-day spike in cases. | On Friday, the US saw its largest single-day spike in cases. |
| But the infection rate has dropped significantly in several hotspots, including New York, the US epicentre. | But the infection rate has dropped significantly in several hotspots, including New York, the US epicentre. |
| As of Sunday, the US has over 940,000 recorded coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, and more than 54,000 deaths. | As of Sunday, the US has over 940,000 recorded coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, and more than 54,000 deaths. |
| Public health experts warn that lifting restrictions too soon could cause a second wave of infections. The decision to end mandatory orders comes as over 26m Americans seek unemployment protection, and the jobless rate climbs to around 16% of the population. | Public health experts warn that lifting restrictions too soon could cause a second wave of infections. The decision to end mandatory orders comes as over 26m Americans seek unemployment protection, and the jobless rate climbs to around 16% of the population. |
| Even as state governors allow orders to expire, some city mayors have issued their own separate plans to end local lockdowns rules. | Even as state governors allow orders to expire, some city mayors have issued their own separate plans to end local lockdowns rules. |
| How are states reopening? | How are states reopening? |
| At one point, over 90% of the US population was under mandatory lockdown orders, but some states began lifting orders over the weekend allowing some Americans to return to hair salons and tattoo parlours. | At one point, over 90% of the US population was under mandatory lockdown orders, but some states began lifting orders over the weekend allowing some Americans to return to hair salons and tattoo parlours. |
| Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska and South Carolina have already allowed some businesses to reopen. They and other states have issued plans that call for more rules to be relaxed in the coming week. | Georgia, Oklahoma, Alaska and South Carolina have already allowed some businesses to reopen. They and other states have issued plans that call for more rules to be relaxed in the coming week. |
| Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis has said kerb-side retail pickup can begin on Monday, with hair salons, barbershop and tattoo parlours allowed to reopen on Friday. | Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis has said kerb-side retail pickup can begin on Monday, with hair salons, barbershop and tattoo parlours allowed to reopen on Friday. |
| Tennessee will allow restaurants to reopen on Monday, the same day that Mississippi's mandatory lockdown order expires. | Tennessee will allow restaurants to reopen on Monday, the same day that Mississippi's mandatory lockdown order expires. |
| Montana's governor has allowed churches to reopen starting on Sunday, with social distancing measures still required. Restaurants and schools will be allowed to reopen on 7 May. | Montana's governor has allowed churches to reopen starting on Sunday, with social distancing measures still required. Restaurants and schools will be allowed to reopen on 7 May. |
| Eight states led by Republican governors - Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming - never issued mandatory orders to stay at home. | Eight states led by Republican governors - Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming - never issued mandatory orders to stay at home. |
| What have officials said? | What have officials said? |
| On Sunday, White House coronavirus taskforce co-ordinator Dr Deborah Birx said social distancing will remain the norm "through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases". | On Sunday, White House coronavirus taskforce co-ordinator Dr Deborah Birx said social distancing will remain the norm "through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases". |
| Her comments come after Vice-President Mike Pence said the virus would be largely "behind us" by the 25 May Memorial Day holiday, which signals the unofficial start of summertime in the US. | Her comments come after Vice-President Mike Pence said the virus would be largely "behind us" by the 25 May Memorial Day holiday, which signals the unofficial start of summertime in the US. |
| Dr Birx told Fox News this weekend that new cases and deaths "will be dramatically decreased by the end of May". | Dr Birx told Fox News this weekend that new cases and deaths "will be dramatically decreased by the end of May". |
| On Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it would be impractical to force people to remain in their homes all throughout the summer with nothing to do. | On Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it would be impractical to force people to remain in their homes all throughout the summer with nothing to do. |
| "There's a sanity equation here," he says, pointing to reports that domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health problems have already increased. | "There's a sanity equation here," he says, pointing to reports that domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health problems have already increased. |
| The death rate has dropped in New York, with 367 deaths on Saturday compared with 437 on Friday. It represents the lowest increase since 30 March. | |
| Governor Cuomo said that transmission rates, as well as death rates, would dictate how and when the state reopens. | Governor Cuomo said that transmission rates, as well as death rates, would dictate how and when the state reopens. |
| He added that some business sectors may be able to consider reopening after his lockdown order expires on 15 May - but only if the region has seen a two-week decline in infections as outlined by recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | He added that some business sectors may be able to consider reopening after his lockdown order expires on 15 May - but only if the region has seen a two-week decline in infections as outlined by recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |