These states have partially reopened after coronavirus shutdown

More than half the states in the U.S. have now lifted some restrictions that were put in place to mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

While most governors are planning a phased reopening, timelines vary by state. 

Some have allowed retail and hospitality businesses to open their doors to customers but with restrictions on capacity and types of services. Many states have allowed nonessential medical procedures to resume. Some states that still have stay-at-home orders in place have loosened some restrictions on industries such as outdoor recreation, businesses or workers that were previously limited. 

Meanwhile, several states including South Dakota never issued the stay-at-home orders that affected most U.S. residents, although many nonessential businesses were closed.

Here are the 37 states that have partially reopened for business.

Alabama

Alabama is in a “safer at home” phase starting April 30. Under Gov. Kay Ivey’s (R) new order, residents are encouraged but not required to stay home. Beaches are open but entertainment venues and salons are still closed. Restaurants are limited to take-out, curbside or delivery service.

Alaska

Alaska’s stay-at-home order expired on April 21. Under phase one of the state’s reopening, Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) is allowing restaurants and retail stores to reopen at 25 percent capacity with limited services. Personal services like hair salons are required to maintain a 1:1 ratio of employees to customers. Gatherings, including church services and fitness classes, are limited to 20 people or less.

Arizona

Elective medical procedures resumed May 1 with restrictions. Retail businesses began offering curbside service May 4 and in-person services May 8.

Arkansas

Arkansas never issued a stay-at-home order; however, restaurants, gyms and retail businesses are closed until May 4. Elective surgeries resumed April 27.

California

Some businesses, including bookstores and clothing stores, were allowed to reopen May 8. 

Colorado

The state’s stay-at-home order expired on April 26. Gov. Jared Polis (D) on April 26 said the state remains in a “safer at home” phase for at least 30 days, meaning residents are recommended but not required to stay home. Retail businesses were allowed to reopen for curbside delivery and elective medical procedures were permitted to resume on April 27. Starting May 8, “personal service” businesses like hair salons were allowed to reopen if they had fewer than 10 people in the business at one time.

Florida

Florida’s stay-at-home order expired April 30. Restaurants were allowed to reopen at limited capacity May 4 in most of the state, excluding Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Elective surgeries were also allowed to resume. Beaches reopened for “essential activities” in parts of the state on April 17.

Georgia

Georgia’s shelter-in-place order expired on April 30, allowing malls and many other businesses to reopen and lifting a ban on short-term vacation homes. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) allowed some businesses, including dine-in restaurants, gyms and hair salons, to reopen and elective surgeries to resume beginning April 24. Elective surgeries were allowed to resume the same day. 

Hawaii

Hawaii allowed golf courses to reopen and florists to resume deliveries on May 1. Exercise on beaches is allowed with appropriate social distancing measures.

Idaho

Idaho’s stay-at-home order expired on April 30. Restaurants, gyms, salons and movie theaters remain closed, but churches and daycares are allowed to reopen. 

Illinois

Elective surgeries resumed May 1 and curbside service is now allowed at retail stores.

Indiana

Elective surgeries resumed and dentists, greenhouses and pet groomers were allowed to reopen on May 1.

Iowa

Elective surgeries resumed April 27. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) also permitted farmer’s markets to begin limited operations on that date. Churches have now reopened, and restaurants and stores in less-populous counties were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity on May 1.

Kansas

Kansas’s stay-at-home order expired May 3 and the state entered “phase one” of Gov. Laura Kelly’s (D) plan to reopen. Day cares and libraries were allowed to reopen. Residents are still encouraged to stay home.

Kentucky

Nonessential medical services resumed with some restrictions on April 27.

Maine

Maine’s stay-at-home order expired on April 30. Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued a “stay safer at home” order until May 31. It encourages people to continue staying home and wearing face masks. Nonessential medical services, salons, drive-in churches, drive-in movie theaters, outdoor recreation including state parks and auto dealerships and car washes were allowed to reopen May 1.

Massachusetts

Golf courses in Massachusetts were allowed to reopen May 7.

Michigan

Michigan on April 24 allowed workers in landscaping, lawn service, and bike shops to return to work. Big box stores like Walmart were allowed to reopen closed-off areas like garden centers. Retailers have reopened for curbside pick-up and for delivery. Face masks and social distancing are required.

Minnesota

Some recreational activities, such as golfing, boating, fishing, hunting and hiking, restarted on April 18. Gov. Tim Walz (D) allowed certain non-critical workers to return to work on April 27 at some offices and at industrial and manufacturing businesses.

Mississippi

Mississippi’s shelter-in-place order expired on April 27. Elective surgeries resumed on that date. Retail stores were allowed to begin reopening at 50 percent capacity, but restaurants are still limited to pickup and curbside service. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued a “safer at home” order until at least May 11, with residents being encouraged but not required to remain at home.

Missouri

The state’s stay-at-home order expired May 3, although the state’s largest urban areas, including Kansas City and St. Louis, remain under longer, separate orders. All businesses were allowed to reopen May 4 if they follow social distancing guidelines.

Montana

Montana’s stay-at-home order expired on April 24. Churches reopened April 26. Retail businesses were allowed to reopen starting April 27 at reduced capacity.

Nebraska

Nebraska never had a stay-at-home order. Churches, restaurants – though not bars or buffets – day cares and salons were allowed to reopen May 4.

Nevada

Nevada relaxed restrictions on outdoor activities and allowed retail curbside service and drive-in church services beginning May 1.

New Jersey

New Jersey reopened state parks and golf courses on May 2.

North Dakota

North Dakota never had a stay-at-home order. Restaurants and bars, salons, fitness centers and movie theaters were allowed to reopen with social distancing restrictions on May 1.

Ohio

Ohio’s stay-at-home order expired on May 1. Elective surgeries resumed on that date.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a “safer-at-home” order, which recommends people over age 65 stay home. On April 24, nature parks and zoos, as well as spas and tanning salons, reopened. Hair and nail salons also reopened but by appointment only.

Oregon

Nonessential medical procedures resumed on May 1.

South Carolina

Some public beaches and retail shops, including department stores and bookstores, reopened with capacity restrictions on April 21.

Tennessee

Tennessee state parks reopened April 24. Restaurants were allowed to reopen in certain counties for dine-in service at 50 percent capacity on April 27. Elective surgeries resumed May 1.

Texas

Texas’s stay-at-home order ended April 30. State parks reopened on April 20 and some stores started offering “retail to go” starting April 24, with face coverings required. Restaurants, movie theaters and retail stores including malls reopened at 25 percent capacity starting May 1.

Utah

Utah’s equivalent of a stay-at-home order expired May 1. Daycares, gyms and restaurants were allowed to reopen on that date with restrictions. Elective surgeries also resumed.

Vermont

Some “low contact” businesses were allowed to reopen with a two-person staff beginning April 20.

Virginia

Nonessential medical procedures resumed May 1.

West Virginia

Elective medical procedures resumed April 28. Certain medical professionals ranging from therapists to pharmacists were allowed to return to work on April 30. Non-essential businesses including restaurants with takeaway service or outdoor dining options, churches and salons were allowed to resume service starting May 4.

Wyoming

Wyoming never had a stay-at-home order. Gyms, salons and other personal care services were allowed to reopen May 1.

Updated May 8.