Wyoming one of four states best positioned to begin reopening, analysis finds

Wyoming is one of just four states around the country able to safely begin lifting restrictions on businesses imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, a new analysis by the investment bank Raymond James said Friday.

However, the report warned that no state is ready to fully lift pandemic restrictions, arguing a true reopening of the economy without a vaccine or an effective form of treatment would “require a robust test, trace, and isolate strategy that our country does not yet have the infrastructure to execute.”

The report analyzed states’ ability to reopen based on criteria outlined in guidelines released by the federal government on April 16, which provide a three-phase plan for states to gradually lift social distancing restrictions imposed on businesses, schools and large public gatherings.

Wyoming, which is considering lifting some restrictions on businesses like fitness centers, barbershops and beauty salons, already meets a number of the necessary criteria to begin entering into phase one of the federal government’s recovery plan, including benchmarks for:

• numbers of hospitalizations and emerging antibody testing for health care workers;
• a downward trajectory of cases over a 14-day period; and
• a downward trajectory of patients exhibiting symptoms of influenza or COVID-19 over a 14-day period, among others.

Read more: https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-one-of-four-states-best-positioned-to-begin-reopening-analysis-finds/article_23d708d8-f575-5b5c-9eea-d8aa5b1a53da.html
(Casper Star Tribune)