LANSING, Michigan (AP) – States are easing their coronavirus restrictions on restaurants and other businesses due to improved infection and hospitalization numbers, but moving gradually and cautiously, in part because of the more contagious variant taking hold in the US.
While the relief may cause the cases to rise, health experts say it can work if done in a measured way and if the public remains vigilant about masks and social distance.
‘As the frequency increases, you accelerate it. If the frequency drops, you are released. Just getting it right is almost impossible, ”said Dr. Arnold Monto, a professor of public health at the University of Michigan, said. “There is no perfect way to do that.”
As the coronavirus rate in Michigan has dropped to the fifth lowest country in the past two weeks, government Gretchen Whitmer said pubs and restaurants could welcome indoor customers for the first time in 2 1/2 months next week. But it is a curfew at 22:00 and will be limited to 25% of capacity in June, or half of what was allowed when she last weakened the restrictions.
The state previously approved the resumption of personal classes at high schools and the partial reopening of movie theaters.
“We’re in a stronger position because we took this break,” Whitmer said. ‘But we are also very aware of the fact that this variant is now here in Michigan. This poses a real threat. ”
The COVID-19 death rate in the US has risen above 425,000, with the death toll averaging nearly 3,350 per day near overall highs.
But newly confirmed cases have dropped from an average of 248,000 a day to about 166,000 in the past two weeks. And the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has dropped by tens of thousands to 109,000.
At the same time, health experts have warned that the more contagious and potentially deadly variant sweeping Britain is likely to become the dominant source of infection in the US by March. It has been reported in more than 20 states.
Other mutant versions do the distribution in South Africa and Brazil. The Brazilian variant was first detected in the USA, in Minnesota.
Chicago and surrounding suburbs allowed indoors during the weekend for the first time since October. Major cultural attractions, including the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, have reopened with crowd limits.
Steve Lombardo III, an owner of a restaurant group in Chicago, mentioned a big boost. One of the best-known restaurants, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, uses air filtration systems in the hospital in hopes of keeping its head above water, he said.
“Will we make money? Probably not, ”Lombardo said. “But we will not have money like the last three months.”
Washington, DC, also recently ended its monthly ban on indoor dining, but one in New York City remains in effect.
California Governor Gavin Newsom lifted stay-at-home orders this week he imposed last month when hospitals were so overwhelmed by virus patients that they were on the verge of rationing life-saving care. Restaurants and places of worship will be able to work outdoors, and many shops will be able to have more shopping indoors.
Jen Diaz, a 38-year-old technical writer from Santa Clarita, California, who works remotely and has not left her home since visiting the supermarket in March, said she was “terrified” when she made the announcement of the governor hears. She has rheumatoid arthritis, and her treatments suppress her immune system, but she has not yet received any vaccination because she is younger than 65.
“I was very proud of California’s response at first” in the early months of the pandemic, she said. “Suddenly we just open everything up. “Let’s go to the mall!” ‘
She added: “The government does not seem to take it as seriously as at a state level.”
In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced that some indoor operations such as gyms and movie theaters could reopen on Friday with limited capacity. Indoor meals are still banned in the provinces hardest hit.
Not all places follow such a cautious approach.
After North Dakota dropped to the country’s second lowest rate, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum this month not only limited the number of people who can meet at restaurants and bars, but also allowed a nationwide mask mandate to expire last week. .
“The battle is far from over, but we can definitely see the light of the end of the tunnel from here,” Burgum said.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins University and Maryland’s former head of the health department, warned that such a move could pose a major risk.
“I do not think it is unreasonable to start reopening, but if people think it’s the green light to pretend the virus does not exist, we will be back where we were,” Sharfstein said. . ‘If you make restrictions, the virus goes down. You can open it and see how it goes. But if the variants really take hold, it might not be that easy. ”
Many restaurants say they can not survive, but only pick up during the winter. The cold even makes it impossible to eat outside.
Rick Bayless, one of the most decorated chefs in the US, said that it is allowed to eat indoors in his Mexican restaurants in Chicago.
“With 25% indoors, we might be able to reach spring when people want to go outside,” he said.
Bayless said the business survived a previous strike just because its landlord was able to keep him rent-free for three months. The uncertainty has taken a toll on its workers, he said.
‘It was’ touch-and-go’. “When we allowed it to open on Saturday, we had staff here who were literally in tears,” Bayless said.
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Babwin reported from Chicago. Associated Press author Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.