On May 4, 2020, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced that restaurants, bars, and outdoor recreational facilities in the state would be permitted to reopen effective May 7.

Restaurants and bars must close no later than 10:00 p.m. and must adhere to social distancing and other guidelines.

Outdoor recreational facilities can operate from 9:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., also subject to social distancing guidelines.

Reeves commenced the state’s reopening plan on April 24, when he eased some restrictions imposed on businesses as a result of the state’s original stay-at-home order. That order, which was implemented on April 3, expired on April 27.

Mississippi is one of 27 states progressing through a reopening plan. Of those 27 states, 17 have Republican governors. The remaining eight have Democratic governors.