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We’re all ready to get back to normal–but experts warn that we need to patient. Rushing back into our normal routines could lead a coronavirus rebound, erasing any good we’ve done by staying home.
Multiple models show that the death toll will only continue to rise in the United States as more people develop serious symptoms. However, we still have the ability to flatten that curve–if we continue to stay home as much as possible.
The White House coronavirus task force estimates that a total of 74,000 people will die by August–an marked increase of the 67,641 deaths predicted last week. The increase is due to several states throwing open their doors in an effort to return to business as usual.
Here are the states that have loosened or lifted stay-at-home orders as of April 28:
If your state is not on the list above, it means that businesses are not yet reopened. Even states that are easing restrictions will still require people to practice social distancing, wear masks in public, and other protective measures.
Although many states–as well as President Trump–have laid out detailed plans for when it is safe to start reopening businesses, there’s a major problem. These plans rely on being able to test large chunks of the population. And right now, we just don’t have the capability to do that.
There are almost a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in America, but experts warn that number could be much, much higher. Without widespread testing, contact tracing, and other tracking and management tools, we simply don’t know how many people are sick.
Now that we know asymptomatic carriers (people who have the virus but no symptoms) can spread the disease, it’s even more important for everyone to limit contact with the outside world.
We all want to go back to normal, but experts agree that patience and caution are crucial at this time.
Related: Coronavirus: When Will Your State Reopen for Business?