Several states are experimenting with reopening Friday as federal coronavirus guidelines expire

Texas is reopening — (Image credit: Paul Ratje/AFP/Getty Image)

President Trump let the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's voluntary COVID-19 mitigation guidelines expire Thursday and several states are lifting some or all of their social distancing rules Friday, trying to balance public health against economic activity. Alabama, Georgia, Maine, and Tennessee are allowing their stay-at-home orders to expire, as is Texas, where restaurants, movie theaters, malls and retail stores can open at 25 percent capacity despite the number of coronavirus deaths hitting new highs. Other states, like Florida, are lifting their orders on Monday, while more than 20 states are keeping the social distancing rules in place. Public health officials warn that lifting measures without adequate testing and tracing measures could led to new outbreaks.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.