Businesses Face Moving Targets in States’ Safe Reopening Plans

Employers relying on states to tell them when it’s safe to relax into more normal operations—minus the virus-inspired social distancing, employee health screening, and workplace capacity limits—must navigate through continued legal uncertainty as pandemic orders evolve.

The varying business guidelines issued by governors and state health departments as states lift Covid-19 restrictions are moving targets, subject to changes and extended expiration dates, sometimes without much notice.

Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp (R) demonstrated the point May 12, announcing that safety requirements he previously ordered would be modified and extended through the end of May. They originally were set to expire Wednesday. ...