States and territories “need to develop plans for a careful, staged reopening that protects the public’s health while laying a strong foundation for long-term economic recovery,” according to a report from the National Governors Association and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

The “Roadmap to Recovery” was developed with input from public health experts at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

The roadmap outlines five considerations states should follow to build a more robust public health infrastructure and five considerations for planning the “gradual” economic recovery.

The recommendations include expanding coronavirus testing, developing a clear communications strategy and relying on public-private partnerships.

“A successful strategy for reopening requires states to build the public health infrastructure needed to slow the spread of COVID-19, while developing and implementing a staged plan for bringing the economy back to life,” the report recommends. “These steps require the full participation of the federal government, state health agencies, other state agencies, local governments, the private sector and the public.”

Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brooke Moeder