On April 27th, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the stay-at-home order would expire sooner than originally planned. Retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls were set to open on Friday, May 1st with a 25% capacity allowance. May 19th is the set date for the second phase of the re-openings of more businesses. But should states begin to re-open so quickly?

With no plausible and reliable cure found for COVID-19, I don’t agree with reopening states so suddenly. Plasma transfusions are not a cure, these transfusions are said to be a relief for the patient’s symptoms. I feel with these restrictions being relieved this will only cause more of a disruption that we’ve been trying to prevent. The opening of crowded places could be the very reason why more people will continue to be at a higher risk of catching COVID-19.

There never is a guarantee that people will practice regular health precautions. Somebody who is infected that shows no symptoms could come into contact with a vulnerable source for the virus to target. I would personally feel much safer if there were a plausible treatment, the ease of restrictions to “test out” further spread of the virus is ridiculous and reckless.

There is so much pressure on the authority who has a say on what to do in a situation like this. Up until recently they’ve handled everything as best as they could. This pressure shouldn’t enable hasty decisions. This stay-at-home order should last until there is a significant decrease in cases and deaths.

We all want this to end as soon as possible but I’m willing to stay right where I am if it means my family, myself, and my peers are safe. I personally won’t be the one to rush into a movie theater with a bunch of people surrounding me.