Covid-19: The State of Georgia opens the way to deconfinement in the United States

Between satisfaction and indignation, the inhabitants of Georgia pledged, Friday, April 24, on the voice of the deconfinement with the opening of non-essential businesses encouraged by the governor. At the same time the daily death toll decreases in the United States, but caution remains.

Republican governor Brian Kemp, a staunch supporter of the president, has allowed gyms, bowlings, tattoo shops, hair and beauty salons or manicures to reopen in the United States. They must however respect "basic rules", such as the sanitary distance and the limitation of the number of customers.

In a small Atlanta mall, Chris Edwards opened his hair salon at 7 a.m. on Friday. "Yes, I'm happy," he said under his mask as he shaved an unmasked client. "I am a small trader. If I don't cut my hair I don't make any money," he explains, ensuring that he follows all the safety instructions.

His client, a doctor who does not wish to be identified, believes that "it is probably more dangerous to go to the supermarket". 

Cinemas and restaurants may partially open on Monday, while bars and nightclubs remain closed for the time being, with the containment order due to be lifted on May 1 in Georgia.

Brian Kemp said he had the support of local health authorities and assured, Thursday, that businesses would give "priority to the health and well-being of employees and customers".

Multiplication of criticism against the governor of Georgia

But with more than 21,800 positive coronavirus cases and more than 880 deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic, others castigate an "irresponsible" decision. 

"Some people want to sacrifice lives for the sake of the economy and that is unacceptable," Atlanta Democratic Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said on ABC television on Friday. 

According to her, Georgia does not respect the criteria presented by the White House to gradually revive the activity of the first world power, which include a continuous decline in the number of cases and deaths. 

"Stupidity kills", "Believe in science, not Kemp": in front of the governor's residence, in Atlanta, a dozen motorists displaying signs with sometimes flowery slogans expressed their dissatisfaction by honking their horns. 

Because of the deconfinement, a "second wave" of Covid-19 "will kill many more people than anyone can imagine and in the long term, the closings will end up lasting a year or more", fears Eden Lio, an artist , restaurant waitress and bookbinder.

Donald Trump "never said OK" for the reopening of these businesses

Even Donald Trump, an ardent supporter of an economic recovery as soon as possible, assured Friday on Twitter that he had "never said OK to Governor Brian Kemp for these few businesses not affected by the plan".

"Spas, beauty salons, tattoo artists and hairdressers should wait a bit," added the Republican president, who planned, before the crisis, to campaign on the health of the economy to win a second term in November.

I (or @VP) never gave Governor Brian Kemp an OK on those few businesses outside of the Guidelines. FAKE NEWS! Spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors, & barber shops should take a little slower path, but I told the Governor to do what is right for the great people of Georgia (& USA)!

According to the White House, 16 American states have already unveiled plans to revive their economies. Texas and Vermont have authorized a partial resumption of activities, and South Carolina and Florida have reopened part of the coastline to the public.

But in New York, epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, there is no question of lowering the guard. "I know everyone is impatient," said governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday. But if businesses reopen too quickly, "this is what will happen: all the progress made will disappear". 

With AFP

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