Georgia’s Fast Reopening Is Going Pretty Slowly

Growing numbers of states are allowing their shelter-in-place orders to expire and letting businesses reopen. This has Republicans rooting for a rapid economic recovery as people get back to work and Democrats fearing a renewed spike in virus transmission. But take it from me, a Georgian who's been legally permitted to get a haircut or a face tattoo for two weeks and counting, reopening will be dictated much more by the comfort level of consumers and businesses than by the decisions of governors.

When Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said on April 20th that Georgia would be the most aggressive state in the country about reopening, there was a mixed response from the business community, judging from the businesses that I personally frequent. That day, American Haircuts, a barbershop I frequented for years, sent an email to customers saying it intended to reopen in a limited capacity as early as April 24th. Three days later, perhaps in response to feedback from customers and employees, it sent a longer email saying it hoped to be open within the next few weeks. There has been no update since.