As days fade to months, people have already begun to grow impatient with the current world pandemic. Small businesses are sinking with the lack of financial support needed to survive this quarantine. While the number of job losses in America is still fluctuating, it is estimated to be anywhere between 26 million and 30 million people. These statistics have led to communities and organizations putting stress on their state governors and senators in an attempt to get the economy up and functioning. Riots across various states such as Michigan and Virginia have broken out, with people firmly ignoring the social distancing regulations in hopes to get the economy reopened.

Without a clear indicator of when to reopen, several states have taken the liberty of deciding their economic fate themselves, though at the risk of causing a resurgence of the coronavirus. Despite what happened in Asia (secure containment leading to a failed reopening that had caused the virus to spread once more), governors are convinced that reopening their state is a necessary part of the process undergone during the crisis. Most have agreed to fluctuate the date between May 1 and June 1 according to what scientists say is an alright time to introduce social norms without risk of more casualties.  

Iowa currently hasn’t given out stay-at-home orders, but several restrictions have been enforced throughout the pandemic. Governor Kim Reynolds decided to loosen some of these restrictions on May 1. Around 77 counties are encouraged to reopen their restaurants, gyms, malls, and libraries to the public in a condensed manner. However, the other 22 counties will have to wait until May 15 for restrictions to be lessened or reevaluated. According to an article by Business Insider, Reynolds has reportedly threatened to cut unemployment benefits from those who refuse to return to work after this set reopening time.  

With the delicate balance between health and economic depression on the line, health experts have been vigorously trying to determine the best time for the economy and various states to truly reopen.  Currently, most believe that the country should slowly reopen its facilities depending on the statistics each state is currently showing, keeping the most dangerous and infected states under lockdown for a longer period of time than those that are suffering less.  The Washington Post held many conferences with health experts that display their current worries in and out of the political spectrum.