There are parts of New York in upstate have already begun a limited opening. The Long Island region is on track to open based upon CDC metrics on Wednesday, the 27th of May. The two months that people have been locked down will hopefully result in businesses opening up and a mad rush of customers to stores.
The reality will be a little different. Stores will have to limit the number of customers, require face coverings and provide sanitizer. Stores which have been closed for a few months simply may not have the money to open with all of these features. Where will they obtain the extra money? They will not be eligible to obtain loans and will have to use cash that they may have in the bank.
The problem of finding money will not only be limited to the businesses, but also the States. States are currently in debt as the revenue they once depended on through sales tax and personal income have evaporated due to the pandemic. If businesses are not operating there will be no sales tax for the State and revenue going to the Federal government. The lack of money will mean a cutback in services offered to residents.
What will States and local governments do when they cannot balance the budget? They will have to cut services. The first services that they will begin cutting will be public services such as buses, trains, schools, police and fire. If your town or city has garbage collection twice a week, they may soon go to once a week. As the situation worsens public services will be next.
How will people react to cuts when the public transportation they rely on does not run as often? Will people risk riding on a bus or subway when there is no way to social distance? The risks of a second wave will increase as people have no choice but to take public transportation. As people go out, they will be raise the chance of spreading and bringing back COVID-19, which may lead to another lockdown.
Hopefully the people will wear face coverings, continue to social distance, wash their hands and sanitize their surroundings.
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