How Five Countries Were Able to Reopen
Social distancing measures and widespread testing are among the reasons why some countries have been able to reopen
A little more than three months after the coronavirus pandemic came to the U.S., some states are ready to get back to work.
Despite a mounting death toll and evidence that our testing capacity still leaves a lot to be desired, a number of states are opting to reopen their economies. States like Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Hawaii, and Alaska have already eased restrictions; others including Alabama and Colorado are set to follow suit. The Trump administration has deferred to governors on the issue, suggesting — but not mandating — that states remain in lockdown until they have a downward trajectory of documented cases or positive tests in a 14-day period.
While there is no consensus on when to reopen, other nations who’ve successfully slowed down the virus can offer a roadmap for the U.S. Below, a look at how five different countries dealt with the pandemic, and whether their efforts were successful.
New Zealand
In late March, though New Zealand had seen just 102 Covid-19 cases and no deaths, the government issued stay-at-home orders, banned international travelers from entering the…
