All 50 States Have Now Taken Steps to Reopen

The U.S. hit a milestone in the coronavirus pandemic as all 50 states have now begun reopening, working to revive their economies after months of shutdowns designed to curb the contagion.

Slight declines in new confirmed cases in some states have prompted governors from New York to Ohio to restart some services, with rules varying from place to place, including restaurants, churches and schools. On Wednesday, Connecticut became one of the last states to loosen restrictions.

Washington, D.C., remains under stay-at-home orders, and large parts of states, including major metropolitan areas, are still largely shut. In most states, the reopenings are happening in phases.

Absent mandated federal guidelines, local leaders looking to reopen have weighed the potential costs to the economy and public health, relying on sources including virus data, task forces, public-health leaders and their own constituencies.

A big question remaining is whether cases will go up as people re-emerge.

Most states are moving to reopen before they have met criteria set by the Trump administration such as a two-week decline in the number of new cases or in the percentage of Covid-19 tests that are positive. The administration’s plan leaves the decision about when to reopen up to governors.