US: Open Georgia could attract out-of-state customers

Businesses including restaurants have begun to open in Georgia, as the US state lifts coronavirus restrictions.

And businesses could see customers from neighboring states where restrictions remain in place.

Kelly Moore, who lives near the Alabama-Georgia state line in Cherokee County, Alabama, says people from her area are traveling to Rome, Georgia.

"Oh, I know there are. There have been all along," she told WBMA-TV in Birmingham, Alabama.

Moore isn't so sure she's ready to do the same.

"I guess if everybody, like at a hair salon, had on a mask, I would feel safe doing it, but otherwise no. I think Georgia's actually done it a little too soon."

Alabama resident Patty Green says it's still too risky to open things up.

"I feel like once they do start opening it back up we're going to probably see the cases going straight up too."

Georgia’s governor says he’s still deciding what comes next after the state’s shelter-in-place order expires after Thursday.

Georgia reported more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and 994 deaths late Monday.