Some states hit pause, others press on amid spike in virus

 Utah and Oregon put any furr reopenings of ir ecomies on hold amid a spike in coronavirus cases, but re was turning back Friday in such states as Texas, California, Arkansas and Arizona despite flashing warning signs re, too.

One by one, states are weighing health risks from virus against ecomic dam from stay-at-home orders that have thrown millions out of work over past three months.

And many goverrs are coming down on side of jobs, even though an Associated Press analysis this week found that cases are rising in nearly half states — a trend experts attributed in part to grual reopening of businesses over past few weeks.

Texas, which set single-day highs for hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases this week, gave go-ahe for restaurants on Friday to expand eat-in dining to 75% capacity, up from 50%.

Arkansas, where number of cases has nearly doubled since Memorial Day and number of people hospitalized is up more than 88%, will let restaurants seat more customers on Monday.

“Regardless of what we see in next week, we me right decision to go ahe and lift some of se restrictions so we don’t cause more dam to people’s lives and ir livelihood,” Republican Gov. Asa Hutchison said.

Arizona has become one of most troubling hot spots in U.S. as new cases have surged to more than 1,000 a day, up from fewer than 400 before stay-at-home orders expired in mid-May. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey gave assurances health care system can handle it.

Even California, site nearly three months ago of nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order, entered most expansive phase of its grual reopening Friday, even though its daily aver of new cases is up by more than 600 from a week ago.

Wineries in California started uncorking ir bottles and welcoming people back to ir tasting rooms, and hotels, zoos, museums and aquariums were also allowed to reopen. San Francisco restaurants resumed outdoor dining, and San Diego Zoo opened on a limited basis.

So far, only a small number of goverrs have shown a willingness to retreat, or at least hit pause.

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah and Democratic Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon both said y would halt lifting furr restrictions for time being as new cases flare.

“As I've said before, reopening comes with real risk,” Brown said in anuncing a one-week pause that will affect, among or places, Portland, state's biggest city.

She said increase in positive test results was caused in part by reopening of some counties. Oregon reported 178 new cases Thursday, highest count since outbreak began.

Elsewhere around country, Iowa bars, restaurants, aters and or businesses were allowed to pack in more customers. Swimming pools, senior centers and ult day care centers were also cleared to open back up. Iowa is still seeing hot spots, especially near meatpacking plants.

While President Donald Trump has pushed hard for states to reopen, decision to charge ahe or go slow has t fallen neatly along partisan lines. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is a Democrat in biggest blue state of m all.

In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott "is making pretty clear at this point he wants ecomy to open," a worried Austin Mayor Steve ler said. "My hope is that when he sees what kind of surge re's going to be, he does act at a state level."