Every State’s Rules for Reopening Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

Until July 3, Alabama is under a Safer at Home order, which allows restaurants to offer food for takeout and delivery. Customers must maintain 6-foot social distancing protocols. Entertainment venues, such as arcades, movie theaters, and bowling alleys are also allowed to open, but there must be no waiting lines, people have to wear masks, and customers have to be separated by at least 6 feet. Sports practices resumed May 23, and games have been allowed to take place after June 15.

Schools in Alabama were allowed to reopen on June 1, and students and teachers need to maintain 6 feet social distancing. Employees at educational institutions are required to wear masks. These conditions will remain in place until July 3 at the earliest. Guidance, but not mandates, for school reopening in the fall will be released on June 26.

Travelers arriving into Alaska from another state or country now have to follow new protocols: completing a traveler declaration form; presenting results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the previous 72 hours; or taking a test upon arrival and self-quarantining until results are known. Travelers can only use road or maritime highways, and travel to remote areas is restricted to essential travel. Alaska is in phase 3 of reopening. All businesses (in full capacity), religious gatherings, libraries, museums, recreational activities, and sport activities can open.

Retail stores have opened. So have gyms, spas, movie theaters, and community swimming pools. Restaurants have resumed dine-in services. People are strongly encouraged to continue practicing social distancing. Businesses are required to keep employees and customers at least 6 feet apart and to demand all in the business wear face covering whenever possible. They must also check employees for symptoms and increase cleaning and disinfecting.

There is no statewide requirement for people to wear masks but local governments can implement their own mask and face covering policies and determine enforcement.

Arkansas entered phase 2 of reopening on June 15. Restaurants and other businesses can now expand to two-thirds capacity, up from a third of their capacity under phase 1. Summer day camps are open but class sizes are limited to no more than 10 people. Camp enrollment is limited in order to allow proper physical distancing.

High school and community sports teams were allowed to resume practice events starting June 1, under strict measures. Gov. Asa Hutchinson postponed in-person graduation ceremonies until at least July 1. Short-term rentals such as hotels, motels, and vacation rentals are limited to “authorized guests,” which include national guard members, first responders, homeless people, and journalists. Long-term care facilities such as nursing homes may resume limited visitation after July 1.

A stay-at-home order, which has no set end date, is still in effect, though some restrictions have already been lifted. New coronavirus cases in the state have reached a record high on June 23. To flatten the curve, Californians must wear masks or other face coverings while in public or in high-risk places such as stores, public transit, or hospitals.The state is still reopening at the county level, with counties that meet specific criteria allowed to lift certain restrictions.

In phase 3, music, TV and film production, as well as professional sports (without fans) have been able to resume operations subject to approval by county public health officials since June 12. Nail and hair salons, tattoo parlors, massage parlors, and other personal care services can reopen starting June 19 in approved counties. Day camps can resume activities but limit the number of people in the camp so physical distancing can be maintained. No date has been set yet for the beginning of phase 4, when concerts and sports will be allowed to have live crowds.