Businesses can reopen with rules

Starting Monday, all businesses in the state of Mississippi were able to reopen, Gov. Tate Reeves said, though there are some restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor’s new reopening guidelines are termed “Safe Return,” replacing the “Safer at Home” which expired Monday.
“There will be no more business closures. Everyone will be allowed to operate,” Reeves said. “… We cannot have an endless shutdown.”
The state went from piecemeal restrictions to a statewide stay-at-home order that exempted many businesses and organizations during the pandemic. In recent weeks, Mississippi has been under what Reeves called his “Safer at Home” order. He’s calling his new guidance a “Safe Return” order, which went into effect Monday.
“This does not mean the threat is gone,” Reeves said. “… There are no perfect options, but freedom with risk is better than a prolonged shutdown … I trust the people of Mississippi.”
The new order allows socially distanced gatherings of up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors starting Monday. If social distancing is not possible, those numbers will be limited to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors.
Local governments have the option of setting stricter guidelines, Reeves said.