Tennessee and South Carolina, two of Georgia’s neighboring states, have made plans to reopen some businesses closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has said he will not extend his "safer-at-home" order, which expires April 30. This effectively opens "the vast majority" of businesses, according to The New York Times.
Lee also said some businesses will be allowed to open their doors as soon as April 27.
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In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster relaxed restrictions effective at 5 p.m. Monday. Clothing stores, furniture stores, florist shops and some beaches are among others allowed to open with social distancing measures, according to Time.
"We are still in a very serious situation … we must be sure that we continue to be strict and disciplined with our social distancing," McMaster said at a news conference. "Our goal was to cause the most damage possible to the virus, while doing the least possible damage to our businesses. South Carolina's business is business."
To maintain social distancing, South Carolina stores must limit occupancy to five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% occupancy, whichever is less, according to news station WYFF.
These two governors’ orders came on the same day that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced a “measured” reopening plan. Gyms, barber shops, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys, among other businesses, can reopen Friday.
»MORE: Kemp reopens some businesses, despite warnings COVID-19 still a threat
Some health officials worry that the lighter restrictions come prematurely given the current number of cases.
"It's a big risk. If you open up enough, it's almost for certain the virus will hit Georgia again. It's just waiting for more susceptible people and more contacts. That's how viruses work." — Dr. Marc Lipsitch, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
As of Tuesday, Georgia has seen more than 19,000 positive coronavirus test results.
Tennessee has more than 7,000 and South Carolina saw upward of 4,000 based on reports from The Associated Press and the COVID Tracking Project.
South Carolina and Georgia ranked in the bottom 10 states for rate of testing, with 8.1 tests administered per 1,000 people.
»MORE: Return to normal demands unprecedented surge in testing, experts warn
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