Memorial Day weekend drew large crowds to beaches, lakes, and boardwalks across the US. But enjoying the sun on the holiday isn't the only reason Americans are leaving their homes.
Data across hotel, restaurant, and flight platforms shows Americans are starting to leave their houses more to travel, shop, and get outside.
However, as people start to branch out beyond the confines of their homes, concerns of a second-wave of COVID-19 cases are growing, particularly as large crowds gather without masks or social distancing — a direct contradiction to CDC, government, and epidemiologists guidance.
Memorial Day gatherings came as the US approached and surpassed 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.
Yet, states are forging ahead in a patchwork of reopening levels. And now, different parts of the country are beginning to see a dichotomy between the number of new cases rising and declining.
In states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Washington, new COVID-19 cases have been dropping steadily for weeks. But states including North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia, among 17 others, the number of new cases increased during the week that ended May 24.
To highlight the change in behavior, we've rounded up data and photos that show Americans' return to the outdoors, charting the various ways people are beginning to resume more traditional activities.
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