CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — Several states are loosening their coronavirus restrictions because of improved infection and hospitalization numbers but they are moving gradually and cautiously, in part due to concern over confirmed variant cases.
While the easing of restrictions could cause case rates to rise, health experts encourage a measured approach by states and that the public remains vigilant about masks and social distancing.
“If the frequency goes up, you tighten it up. If the frequency goes down, you loosen up. Getting it just right is almost impossible,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, a public health professor at the University of Michigan. “There’s no perfect way to do this.”
As Michigan’s coronavirus rate dropped to the nation’s fifth-lowest over the last two weeks, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said bars and restaurants can welcome indoor customers Feb. 1 NewsNation affiliate WOOD reported. Open for the first time in 2 1/2 months, restaurants will be under a 10 p.m. curfew and will be limited to 25% of capacity, or half of what was allowed the last time she loosened their restrictions, in June.
The state previously authorized the resumption of in-person classes at high schools and the partial reopening of movie theaters.
“We’re in a stronger position because we’ve taken this pause,” Whitmer said. “But we are also very mindful of the fact that this variant is now here in Michigan. It poses a real threat.”
The COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. has climbed past 425,000, with the number of dead running at close to all-time highs at nearly 3,350 a day on average.
But newly confirmed cases have dropped over the past two weeks from an average of about 248,000 per day to around 166,000. The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 has fallen by tens of thousands to 109,000.
At the same time, health experts have warned that the more contagious and possibly more lethal variant sweeping Britain will probably become the dominant source of infection in the U.S. by March. It has been reported in over 20 states.
Other mutant versions are circulating in South Africa and Brazil. The Brazil variant has been detected for the first time in the U.S., in Minnesota.
Chicago and surrounding suburbs allowed indoor dining over the weekend for the first time since October. Major attractions including the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium reopened with crowd limits, NewsNation affiliate WGN reported.
Steve Lombardo III, an owner of a Chicago-area restaurant group, called being able to seat customers indoors a “huge boost.” One of its most famous restaurants, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, has been using hospital-grade air filtration systems in the hopes of staying afloat, he said.
“Will we be making money? Probably not,” Lombardo said. “But we won’t be hemorrhaging money like we have the last three months.”
New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, said Monday that the holiday COVID spike seems to have peaked and that the state will start to ease some restrictions this week.
As coronavirus numbers continue to trend in the right direction in the state, Cuomo announced restrictions on the state’s “orange zone” micro clusters have been lifted and a plan for New York City restaurants will be announced at the end of the week, NewsNation affiliate WPIX reported.
Washington, D.C. recently ended its monthlong ban on indoor dining, reopening to 25% capacity Jan. 21 according to NewsNation affiliate WDVM.
This week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted stay-at-home orders he imposed last month when hospitals were so overwhelmed with virus patients that they were on the verge of rationing lifesaving care. Restaurants and places of worship will be able to operate outdoors, and many stores will be able to have more shoppers inside, NewsNation affiliate KTLA reported.
In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced that some indoor operations such as gyms and movie theaters can reopen Friday with limited capacity. Indoor dining is still banned in the hardest-hit counties.
Some groups not currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon are crossing the border to get vaccinated in Washington, NewsNation affiliate KOIN reported.
Data from several New Mexico counties showed many were on a path to ease restrictions reported NewsNation affiliate KRQE. On Jan. 27, the state will officially update its red to green map — with yellow counties allowing indoor dining at 25% capacity.
After North Dakota dropped to the nation’s second-lowest case rate, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum this month not only relaxed limits on the number of people who can gather at restaurants and bars but also allowed a statewide mask mandate to expire on Jan. 18, reported NewsNation affiliate KXMA.
“The fight is far from over, but we can certainly see the light of the end of the tunnel from here,” Burgum said.
Many restaurants say they cannot survive offering only takeout as winter weather makes it difficult if not impossible to offer outdoor dining.
Rick Bayless, an award-winning celebrity chef, said allowing indoor dining at his Mexican restaurants in Chicago may buy him some time.
“With 25% indoor we might be able to make it to the spring, when people will want to go outdoors,” he said.
Bayless said the business survived a previous shutdown only because his landlord allowed him to stay rent-free for three months. The uncertainty has taken a toll on his workers, he said.
“It’s been touch-and-go. When they allowed us to open up on Saturday, we had staff in here that were literally in tears,” Bayless said.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins University and Maryland’s former health department chief, recommends caution as lawmakers reopen.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to start to reopen, but if people think that’s the green light to pretend the virus doesn’t exist, then we’re going to be right back to where we were,” Sharfstein said. “If you do restrictions, the virus goes down. You can open up and see how it goes. But if the variants really take hold, that may not be so easy.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article: Reporting by David Eggert and Don Babwin; Sophia Tareen contributing.
