Several states are reopening after more than a month of closures following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are not deciding whether to open up or not, but what to open, with what protections and changes and with what testing and tracing plans,” said Christine Porter, the Wyoming Chair in Community and Public Health and an associate professor of kinesiology and health at the University of Wyoming.
President Donald Trump and his advisors have devised an approach to reopen America in a three-stage plan starting May 1. These stages come after states have met requirements and are available to continue onto the next phase of Trump’s plan.
“Opening up without a plan for social distancing, testing and tracing contacts of positive cases will simply start the exponential spread of the virus again,” said Porter. These conditions would send Wyoming back into closure and flood our hospitals.
The first phase continues to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to take precautionary guidelines during available social events. Vulnerable individuals are still to remain in self-isolation during this phase. Many businesses, including bars and schools, are to remain closed during this time.
“Until we have a vaccine, we will need to be doing regular testing with tracing of contacts and quarantine for each positive case and their contacts,” said Porter. “This means hiring a team of tracers in Wyoming, probably about 160 of them (30 per 100,000 people), and developing and implementing the widespread and regular testing and quarantine strategies.”
Groups of 50 are allowed during the second phase. Along with this, schools and bars will be able to reopen along with other businesses as long as they follow strict guidelines regarding the occupancy of the business. However, it is still recommended that vulnerable individuals maintain their self-isolation.
“Research suggests that we are not actually choosing between our health or our economy. Disease and death destroy the economy and slow recovery, not the public health measures that work to reduce disease and death,” said Porter.
The last phase completely opens states with guidelines for sanitization. Vulnerable individuals will now be able to disregard self-isolation, but it is recommended that they maintain social distancing. Unrestricted staffing restrictions finally come into effect at this point.
Wyoming is one of four states to begin these phases, according to the investment bank Raymond James as of April 25. Wyoming meets the points set out by Trump’s phased plan to begin starting toward reopening. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has decided to follow Trump’s plan for Wyoming starting May 1.
