Many states are hesitant to reopen businesses and restaurants because of worries about coronavirus cases spiking. 

Washington and other states are trying to figure out the best way to open up the public without a large amount of cases that come along with it. There is no way to know how much of an impact reopening the public will be to the amount of cases of coronavirus. Governor Jay Inslee as well as other governors around the United States are coming up with plans to slowly reopen the public. 

“The virus is not going to disappear,” said Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “It’s a highly transmissible virus. At any given time, it’s some place or another. As long as that’s the case, there’s a risk of resurgence.”

Washington is taking into account the other states and the result of reopening the public. There have been spikes in cases in numerous states that have caused Washington to be hesitant. 

According to The Washington Post, there is an increase in activity and travel within the cities that remains susceptible to infection means the coronavirus has new opportunities to spread. Part of the state of New York is reopening and the number of hospitalizations of covid-19 patients have risen by about 70 percent over the past 10 days and 18 percent since reopening. 

According to The Seattle Times, Inslee has but in a 4-phase process to reopen all of Washington. Some counties in Washington are approaching phase two which allows people to gather in small groups and some businesses like salons and barbers are opening up.

“To be approved for Phase 2, counties must also demonstrate that their hospitals are prepared to handle a return of the disease,” said Sydney Brownstone, Seattle Times staff reporter.

 Although some counties are moving towards this phase, there are many, including King County, is postponing the move towards phase two because some counties cases are too high and is not safe to open up businesses. Everybody all across the United States is hoping for the public to be opened up and Government Officials are doing their best to do so as soon as possible.