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America back in business: States opening up post US shutdown

See which states are reopening, when and how long the stay-at-home order lasted.

Updated Dec 8, 2020

Fact checked

Back in March our nation went on lockdown due to the coronavirus. Finder actually took a look at what state governments were the most responsive to the pandemic. We now take a look at our 50 states and their reopening process.

Countries were not uniform in how they approached closures and neither were our states. There have also been contrasts in how states are reopening. These contrasts appear to be a result of America’s governors responding to apprehensive citizens and a debilitating economy. This is occurring even with the caveat of a second wave.

States with the shortest stay at home order duration

The states of Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming did not have stay at home orders at all. The state of Oklahoma only had an order for vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

States with the longest stay at home order duration

We found the top 5 states with the longest stay at home duration to be California at 79 days, New Jersey & Illinois at 77 days, New York at 76 and Washington had 75 days with 3 other states.

States with the longest stay at home order duration
Stay at home duration by state

Alaska

Stay at home order start date: 03/28/2020
Stay at home order end date: 04/24/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/28/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 04/24/2020

Graph representing Alaska's 7 day average COVID cases, close and open dates

Alabama

Stay at home order start date: 04/04/2020
Stay at home order end date: 04/30/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/28/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 04/30/2020

Alabama 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Arizona

Stay at home order start date: 03/31/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/16/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/31/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Arizona 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Arkansas

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: Did not close non-essential businesses

Arkansas 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

California

Stay at home order start date: 03/19/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/19/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

California 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Colorado

Stay at home order start date: 03/26/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/9/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/26/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/9/2020

Colorado 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Connecticut

Stay at home order start date: 03/23/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/23/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/20/2020

Connecticut 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Delaware

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/08/2020

Delaware 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

District of Columbia

Stay at home order start date: 03/30/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/29/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/29/2020

District of Columbia 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Florida

Stay at home order start date: 04/03/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/18/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 04/03/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Florida 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Georgia

Stay at home order start date: 04/03/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 04/03/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Georgia 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Hawaii

Stay at home order start date: 03/25/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Hawaii 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Idaho

Stay at home order start date: 03/25/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/01/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Idaho 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Illinois

Stay at home order start date: 03/21/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/21/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Illinois 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Indiana

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/18/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Indiana 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Iowa

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/17/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/08/2020

Iowa 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Kansas

Stay at home order start date: 03/30/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/04/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/30/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Kansas 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Kentucky

Stay at home order start date: 03/26/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/26/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/11/2020

Kentucky 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Louisiana

Stay at home order start date: 03/23/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/15/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/23/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Lousiana 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Maine

Stay at home order start date: 04/02/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Maine 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Maryland

Stay at home order start date: 03/30/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/23/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/15/2020

Maryland 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Massachusetts

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/18/2020

Massachusetts 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Michigan

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/07/2020

Michigan 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Minnesota

Stay at home order start date: 03/27/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/18/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/27/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Minnesota 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Mississippi

Stay at home order start date: 04/03/2020
Stay at home order end date: 04/27/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 04/03/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 04/27/2020

Mississippi 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Missouri

Stay at home order start date: 04/06/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/15/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: N/A
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Missouri 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Montana

Stay at home order start date: 03/28/2020
Stay at home order end date: 04/26/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/28/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/01/2020

Montana 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Nebraska

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: Did not close non-essential businesses

Nebraska 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Nevada

Stay at home order start date: 04/01/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/09/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/20/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/09/2020

Nevada 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

New Hampshire

Stay at home order start date: 03/27/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/27/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/11/2020

New Hampshire 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

New Jersey

Stay at home order start date: 03/21/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/21/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/02/2020

New Jersey 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

New Mexico

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/15/2020

New Mexico 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

New York

Stay at home order start date: 03/22/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/22/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

New York 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

North Carolina

Stay at home order start date: 03/30/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/08/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/30/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/08/2020

North Carolina 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

North Dakota

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: Did not close non-essential businesses

North Dakota 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Ohio

Stay at home order start date: 03/23/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/23/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/04/2020

Ohio 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Oklahoma

Stay at home order start date: Order only for vulnerable populations
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 04/24/2020

Oklahoma 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Oregon

Stay at home order start date: 03/23/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/23/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Oregon 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Pennsylvania

Stay at home order start date: 04/01/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 04/01/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/08/2020

Pennsylvania 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Rhode Island

Stay at home order start date: 03/28/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/09/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/28/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Rhode Island 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

South Carolina

Stay at home order start date: 04/07/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/04/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/31/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

South Carolina 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

South Dakota

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: Did not close non-essential businesses

South Dakota 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Tennessee

Stay at home order start date: 04/02/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/31/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Tennessee 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Texas

Stay at home order start date: 04/02/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/01/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 04/02/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Texas 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Utah

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Non-essential businesses closed date: Did not close non-essential businesses

Utah 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Vermont

Stay at home order start date: 03/24/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/15/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/04/2020

Vermont 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Virginia

Stay at home order start date: 03/30/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/15/2020

Virginia 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Washington

Stay at home order start date: 03/23/2020
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Washington 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

West Virginia

Stay at home order start date: 03/25/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/04/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/24/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/04/2020

West Virginia 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Wisconsin

Stay at home order start date: 03/25/2020
Stay at home order end date: 05/13/2020
Non-essential businesses closed date: 03/25/2020
Non-essential businesses reopened date: 05/11/2020

Wisconsin 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Wyoming

Stay at home order start date: Did not have a statewide stay-at-home order.
Stay at home order end date: ongoing
Non-essential businesses closed date: N/A
Non-essential businesses reopened date: ongoing

Wyoming 7 day moving average of covid cases, stay at home start and stay at home end dates

Methodology

Reported COVID case data was sourced from Wikipedia. Cases only include people who were tested and confirmed positive. Rolling 7 day averages were calculated using arithmetic mean over the previous 7 days.

Closure and reopening dates were sourced from both the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and was supplemented by effective dates from each state’s executive orders/proclamations.

Sources:

“COVID-19 pandemic data/United States medical cases,” updated on June 6, 2020 by Wikipedia, accessed on June 6, 2020
“COVID-19 estimate,” updated on June 6, 2020, accessed on June 6, 2020
All other data was sourced from each state’s executive orders/proclamations. As an example, Alabama’s dates were sourced from https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/category/state-of-emergency/

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Allan Givens

Allan Givens is the PR Manager for Finder.com. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut where he majored in sociology and women studies. His previous experience in finance includes brokering loans for small business and optimizing finance content for top sites. Allan now focuses on researching financial trends occurring in the US to better disseminate more informed financial advice.

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