I\u2019m looking out my front window on a beautiful spring day. The grass is green (and well manicured, I might add) and the sun is shining. It\u2019s hard to imagine that I\u2019m looking out at a COVID-19 world, a world of self-isolation, social distancing, and gloves and facemasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in Ohio, our Governor, Republican Mike DeWine, is doing something that seems unusual.\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019s competent.\u00a0\u00a0Unlike the flurry of mixed messages we are receiving from the daily White House briefing, Governor DeWine is clear in his goals for Ohio.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s get open, WHEN it can safely be done.\u00a0\u00a0He knows businesses, particularly small ones operating on the financial margin.\u00a0\u00a0The Governor knows many of the unemployed have been unable to navigate the overwhelmed unemployment benefit network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, he knows people are scared of the virus, but also of not being able to buy food, or pay the bills, or take care of health problems beyond COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0He knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he also knows that closing our eyes and pretending things are better is not only foolish, but a desperate gamble most likely to end up in more deaths, more quarantine, and more economic ruin. So he\u2019s telling Ohio, \u201cGo slow.\u201d The schools are closed for the remainder of the year. Teachers have shifted to online learning, but many school districts are contemplating ending the year early. While many students are gamely toiling at their computers, there are thirty percent or more who never made the sudden transition. They are \u201clost\u201d to education this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you look far down I-75, you see the Governor of Georgia with both eyes firmly closed. His President is speaking from both sides of his mouth. One side is saying: \u201cfollow the plan to reach the \u2018first tier\u2019 of re-opening.\u201d The other side is saying: \u201crebel against government control, open everything now.\u201d Unfortunately for the people of Georgia, Governor Kemp is hearing only the second part. He is opening gyms and tattoo parlors, massage centers, hair-dressers and nail clinics and then demanding that they maintain social distancing. I haven\u2019t quite figured out how to get a tattoo, a massage, or a manicure without being within the six foot distancing limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens in Atlanta doesn\u2019t stay there. Not only is it a major American city, but also it is a central transportation hub. Fly Delta: there\u2019s almost no way to avoid Hartsfield Airport. If Georgia loses control of COVID-19, Hartsfield won\u2019t be accessible. So Governor Kemp\u2019s decisions aren\u2019t just affecting the people of his state. His calls are going to impact how the Nation resumes business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just a few miles farther south on I-75 is Florida, the 47th<\/sup> oldest state in America (Vermont, Maine and West Virginia have older median ages). Knowing the dangers of COVID-19 to the elderly, one would think that Florida would want to take \u201cre-opening\u201d very slowly. One would be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DeSantis already gained notoriety by keeping Florida \u201copen\u201d for Spring Break. Now some of the beaches are back open again, and DeSantis is looking to begin tourism again. However, he does have an advantage other Governors don\u2019t seem to have. DeSantis\u2019 closeness to the President has gotten Florida greater access to testing equipment. The President even offered one for the Governor himself; so he could, like the President, test everyone who comes in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Florida is ranked eighth in the United States for COVID, with 26,314 confirmed cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDoes it Matter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n