LANSING, Mich. (AP) – States are loosening their restrictions on coronavirus in restaurants and other companies because of the improvement in numbers of infections and hospitalizations, but they are moving gradually and cautiously, in part because of the more contagious variant taking over States United
While easing can cause case rates to rise, health experts say it can work if done in a moderate way and if the public remains vigilant about masks and social detachment.
“If the frequency increases, you increase it. If the frequency decreases, you relax. Getting it right is almost impossible, ”said Dr. Arnold Monto, professor of public health at the University of Michigan. “There is no perfect way to do this.”
As Michigan’s coronavirus rate has dropped to the lowest fifth in the country in the past two weeks, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said bars and restaurants could welcome customers indoors next week for the first time in two and a half months. But they will be below curfew at 10 pm and will be limited to 25% of capacity, or half of what was allowed the last time she relaxed restrictions in June.
The state previously authorized the resumption of live classes in schools and the partial reopening of movie theaters.
“We are in a stronger position because we took this break,” said Whitmer. “But we are also very aware of the fact that this variant is now here in Michigan. This represents a real threat. “
The death toll of COVID-19 in the U.S. has risen to over 425,000, with the death toll nearly all times, almost 3,350 per day on average.
But recently confirmed cases have dropped in the past two weeks from an average of around 248,000 a day to about 166,000. And the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has dropped by tens of thousands to 109,000.
At the same time, health experts have warned that the most contagious and possibly the most lethal variant that sweeps Britain is likely to become the dominant source of infection in the United States in March. It has been reported in more than 20 states.
Other mutant versions are circulating in South Africa and Brazil. The Brazil variant was first detected in the United States, in Minnesota.
Chicago and the surrounding suburbs allowed indoor meals over the weekend for the first time since October. Major cultural attractions, including the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, reopened with a crowd limit.
Steve Lombardo III, owner of a group of restaurants in the Chicago area, considered the ability to accommodate customers indoors to be a “big boost”. One of his most famous restaurants, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, has been using hospital-grade air filtration systems in the hope of staying afloat, he said.
“Are we making money? Probably not, ”said Lombardo. “But we will not lose money as we have in the past three months.”
Washington, DC, also recently ended its one-month ban on indoor meals, but one in New York remains in effect.
California Governor Gavin Newsom suspended requests to stay home this week he imposed last month, when hospitals were so overwhelmed with virus patients that they were about to ration essential care. Restaurants and places of worship may operate outdoors and many stores may have more customers inside.
Jen Diaz, a 38-year-old technical writer from Santa Clarita, Calif., Who works remotely and has not left home since a trip to the supermarket in March, said she was “horrified” to hear the governor’s announcement. She has rheumatoid arthritis and her treatments suppress her immune system, but she has not yet received the vaccine because she is less than 65 years old.
“I was very, very proud of California’s response at the beginning” in the early months of the pandemic, she said. “Suddenly, we’re just opening everything up. `Let’s go to the mall! ‘”
She added: “The government does not seem to be taking this as seriously as before, at the state level.”
In Oregon, Governor Kate Brown has announced that some internal operations, such as gyms and cinemas, may reopen on Friday with limited capacity. Indoor dining is still prohibited in the most affected counties.
Not all places are taking such a cautious approach.
After North Dakota dropped to the country’s second lowest case rate, Republican Governor Doug Burgum this month not only relaxed the limits on the number of people who can gather in restaurants and bars, but also allowed a mask mandate statewide expired last week.
“The fight is far from over, but we can certainly see the light at the end of the tunnel here,” said Burgum.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, deputy dean of public health practice and community involvement at Johns Hopkins University and former head of the Maryland health department, warned that such a move could carry a great risk.
“I don’t think it’s irrational to start reopening, but if people think it’s a green light to pretend the virus doesn’t exist, then we’ll be back to where we were,” said Sharfstein. “If you make restrictions, the virus will fall. You can open up and see how it goes. But if variants do happen, it may not be so easy. “
Many restaurants claim that they cannot survive by offering food only during the winter, when the cold makes it difficult, if not impossible, to offer meals outdoors.
Rick Bayless, one of the most decorated chefs in the United States, said allowing indoor dining at his Mexican restaurants in Chicago could give him some time.
“With 25% indoors, we will be able to get to spring, when people will want to go outdoors,” he said.
Bayless said the deal had survived a previous outage only because his landlord allowed him to go without rent for three months. The uncertainty affected his workers, he said.
“It has been uncertain. When we were allowed to open on Saturday, we had employees here who were literally in tears, ”said Bayless.
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Babwin reported from Chicago. Associated Press editor Sophia Tareen of Chicago contributed to this report.