Georgia reopens nonessential businesses despite rebuke from Trump
Georgia on Friday forged ahead with plans to reopen some nonessential businesses while the governor of Michigan loosened some restrictions as states sought to reopen despite the coronavirus pandemic.
People flocked to Georgia’s hair salons and tattoo parlors, in some cases lining up outside the door waiting to get in despite an increase in coronavirus deaths in the Peach State and President Trump’s rebuke of Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen such businesses so soon.
Kemp, one of the last state leaders to issue a stay-at-home order, effective April 3, this week became one of the nation’s first governors to allow businesses such as gyms, barbershops, hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to reopen.
Meanwhile, many residents were quick to take advantage of the reopening by lining up for haircuts and tattoos, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
At Peachtree Battle Barber Shop in Buckhead, customers started forming a line shortly after 7 a.m., Channel 2 Action News reported.
“I certainly don’t want to spread it to anyone so I’ve got a mask, but I’m not really concerned,” customer Matt Maddox said.
“If you’re cutting hair or you’re a waiter, you haven’t been working, so it helps get the economy started again.”
Stephen Richardson’s salon in Dallas began losing business the week of March 10 as the coronavirus moved into Georgia, the paper reported.
“I went from 100 percent to zero,” Richardson said following a subsequent order to shut down.
“We have our very own [safety] concerns, but we need our clients,” he said.
By noontime Friday, Richardson and another stylist were still greeting a steady flow of customers. “People are pretty much getting in and getting out,” he told the AJC.
“I give the clients credit, every client that has shown up has had a mask.”
While some metro Atlanta residents were worried about venturn outdioios, continued contemplating whether they would risk seeing their hairstylist or barber, Angi Warner wasn’t one of them.
Warner’s hairdresser had emailed clients to tell them that she would only accept them one at a time.
“She had her mask and gloves on and did my hair,” Warner said, adding she went in for a wash, trim and style.
“I was in and out in an hour. Easy peasy,”she told the paper.
Still others came out to get a tattoo.
Gabriel Krull heard about Kemp’s order and decided his tattoo shop Slangin Ink would be open for business on Friday.
“I have bills to pay, I have a family to feed,” said Krull, the owner of the Chamblee parlor. “This is my career.”
He said the demand was high w and he was “pretty much booked” on Friday.
But not all tattoo parlors opened, reflecting the wariness some still have over the coronavirus, which has killed at least 800 people in Georgia to date.
At Gate City Tattoo in East Atlanta, owner James Cooper was working on his artwork in his shop, which he said would remain closed until May 1.
”We have appointments booked out for when we reopen, but no sooner,” he told the paper, which also reported that many gyms remained closed.
Meanwhile, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she would begin reopening parts of the state’s economy on Friday — the decision coming amid armed protests outside her home and the threat of a mutiny by state lawmakers.
Whitmer signed a new executive order extending the Wolverine State’s stay-home order by another two weeks until May 15, but eased some other restrictions, which have been met with rancorous protests.
“The new executive order will allow some workers who perform lower-risk activities to go back on the job,” Whitmer said at a Friday morning press conference, including occupations such as landscaping.
“We will consider this the preliminary stage of economic re-engagement. We will measure, we will collect data, we will continue to ramp up testing and tracing and we will make informed decisions in coming days about potential further re-engagement,” she continued.
Activities such as golfing and boating are back on the table, while people will be able to travel between their homes, a previously outlawed activity that incensed Michiganders.
Restaurants and bars will remain closed while all travel continues to be banned.
Michigan has been the third-hardest-hit state by the coronavirus virus, recording more than 35,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths.
But the state’s restrictive stay-home order sparked angry protests by residents who said it was not only a violation of their constitutional liberties but a wrecking ball to small businesses.
Whitmer, a Democrat, has faced fierce backlash from President Trump and the state’s Republican lawmakers — with Trump calling for Michigan to be “liberated” as some states look to reopen sooner.
