With the opening of many states across the United States (including Missouri), the debate over whether or not states should open up has began to be a huge topic. Many protests have begun in states with strict stay at home orders calling for the ending of the lockdown. Is it really the best idea to open states up when the curve is just beginning to flatten, or should lockdowns continue until cases are significantly lower than before?

There are two sides in this debate: opening up states and staying on lockdown. The people arguing to open up states say that if a lockdown were to continue, the economic fallout would be similar to that of the Great Depression, and that is not something we can afford right now. Some also say that quarantining healthy people and sick people alike is unconstitutional and infringes on one’s independence and liberties. 

“Opening states is going to get people back in the workplace to boost the economy,” a student said. 

On the other hand, there are a lot of people who believe that staying on lockdown is the best way to slow the spread of the virus and finally flatten the curve. They feel that people are rushing to get out of the lockdown when the country is not yet ready for that and it could have an extremely negative outcome, such as the country being hit with a second wave that kills much more people then we have seen yet. 

People need to still take the necessary precautions to ensure that the spread of the virus has slowed, despite the country being currently open. The virus has not gone away entirely and it is still lurking, which means that people need to be cautious and stay safe.