A resurgence of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the South and West — and the suspension or reversal of reopenings of bars, hotels, restaurants and other businesses — is endangering hopes for an economic rebound in the region and perhaps nationally.
As Florida's reported cases spiked to record highs the past two weeks, with 9,000 cases recorded in one day last week, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered bars to shut down again.
The jarring reversal underscores what many economists had been stressing for months: That the economy and the job market can't regain their health until business shutdowns have lasted long enough to reduce infections and most Americans feel confident enough to return to restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping malls and airports.
With the number of new cases high and rising, people will be slow to return to normal activities for fear of infection, and businesses will delay hiring and investment, lockdown or no lockdown.''
Even before Texas's governor shut down bars in the states again last week, Michael Neff had decided to re-close his, the Cottonmouth Club in Houston.
