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Friday, March 29, 2024

Georgia forges ahead with reopening despite warnings from experts

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Georgia forges ahead with reopening despite warnings from experts
Georgia forges ahead with reopening despite warnings from experts

Georgia pushed ahead with its plan to become the first U.S. state to allow an array of merchants to reopen on Friday following a month-long shutdown to stanch the coronavirus outbreak, even though both U.S. President Donald Trump and health experts voiced disapproval.

This report produced by Chris Dignam.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) BARBER TOMMY THOMAS, SAYING: "I gotta cut some hair and make some money." Barbershops, bowling alleys, gyms and tattoo parlors opened their doors on Friday in Georgia, the first state in the country to allow an array of small businesses to reopen in the midst of the coronavirus crisis and despite warnings from health experts.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BARBER TOMMY THOMAS, SAYING: "I gotta pay rent and I gotta pay my barbers some money to help them out." Atlanta barber Tommy Thomas said his shop is only accepting clients who've made an appointment and says he's following the state's other guidelines.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY THOMAS, ATLANTA BARBER, SAYING: "I ain't crazy about wearing gloves and cutting hair.

I ain't crazy about wearing a mask, but I'm gonna comply with our government and do what we need to do to be operating.

It's better to do this than sit at home and lose my business." Georgia Governor Brian Kemp pushed ahead with lifting restrictions, disregarding warnings from public health experts.

But not all eligible businesses in Georgia are jumping at the chance to reopen, and many residents agree it's too soon for them to do so.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) GROCERY STORE CUSTOMER PATRICE DARLENE, SAYING: "We need to be safe.

We're not sure really.

The stats on everything seem to be conflicting sometimes, so a haircut is not something I have to have." (SOUNDBITE) (English) GROCERY STORE CUSTOMER KIANA LAWRENCE, SAYING: "As much as I would love to get one I do not think it makes sense to open these businesses before the curve, before we hit the peak" (SOUNDBITE) (English) NANCY MATHEWS, CONSIDERING PLACES TO VISIT, SAYING: "I wouldn't go to a gym at this point because there's too much sweating and breathing heavy and all that stuff.

I don't know." Americans have received mixed signals from President Donald Trump about when and how the country should begin to get back to work.

After calling on Democratic governors in big states to "liberate" their citizens from the stay-at-home orders, in a reversal this week, he said he disapproved of Georgia's move to reopen.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING: "Barbershops, tattoo parlors, I love 'em.

But they can wait a little bit longer.

Just a little bit.

Not, not much." While Georgia is the first state to authorize a widespread reopening, Oklahoma was also opening some retail businesses on Friday.

A model used by the White House says coronavirus hospitalizations in Georgia will peak next week.

The same model predicts that Oklahoma already hit its hospitalizations peak on Tuesday.

Public health experts have said relaxing restrictions in Georgia could lead to a surge in infections and more deaths.

But, for Thomas, getting back to business couldn't have come soon enough.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY THOMAS, ATLANTA BARBER, SAYING: "Heck yeah, I missed it!

I love talking to people.

I love to laugh.

I love to smile, to joke and have fun.

This job I've had for 50 years ain't a job, it's a social scene."

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