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Summary: As the coronavirus pandemic continues, states are balancing public health through stay-at-home orders and crowd limits with concern for jobs and the economy. Alabama was among the last states to issue a stay-at-home order on April 3rd and among the first to begin easing restrictions four weeks later. Since reopening, new coronavirus cases in Alabama have been trending upward, suggesting that premature state reopenings can have big public health consequences.

There was a 330 percent increase in coronavirus cases in Alabama between April and May. 80 percent of deaths due to coronavirus in Alabama occurred in the month of May following its loosening of restrictions. Doctors warn that limited access to healthcare in rural Alabama could slow down diagnoses and increase the likelihood of spread. According to Mayor Steven Reed of Montgomery, Alabama, the majority of Montgomery’s city council opposes requiring mask-wearing in public.

June 12th, 2020 video and resource materials from PBS NewsHour.

Check out our Daily News Story collection, or find more at PBS NewsHour Extra.

Today’s Daily News Story was written by EXTRA’s intern Carolyn McCusker, a senior at Amherst College.