What America can learn about reopening from the state of Maine

Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi, Alexis Christoforous, and Andy Serwer discuss states slowly reopening their economies, and what we can learn from how Maine is handling reopening.

Transcripción del vídeo

BRIAN SOZZI: Memorial Day weekend was a big test for the states slowly reopening their economies. That was on display in Maine, where our editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer, has been hunkered down. Andy, how does it go? As goes Maine, so goes the nation?

ANDY SERWER: Yeah, well, that's what they used to say back in the 19th century, Brian. Not so much more recently. But basically, Maine, like a lot of other states, was opening up over this holiday weekend. And it's a process that has been slow. And obviously it's different in different states, and different even within each part of the state, because, obviously, some places are more populated than others.

Here in Maine, things are pretty conservative, pretty cautious. But it's an important part of the year, because this state, like so many other states in the United States, are based very much on a tourist economy, particularly in the summer months. So a critical time for this state as well as others.

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: Andy, I'm curious how people are reacting as things start to open up there in Maine. Are you seeing people still stay vigilant? Are they wearing their masks and social distancing? Or are people getting a little lax now?

ANDY SERWER: Well, unfortunately, Alexis-- and that's a great question-- but people are somewhat politicizing this. And that's distressing. And I've seen that here in Maine, where if you wear a mask, you maybe are considered a liberal. And if you don't, you're a Trumper.

And that's really too bad, because everyone just needs to keep safe here. And there are people on both sides, of course, who are wearing masks. And that's good to see.

But we also had those pictures over the weekend from Lake of Ozarks, and all those people together in those big pools hanging out. Now listen, those people may dodge a bullet. I don't know. But they are basically putting themselves in harm's way, if you ask me. And I think the governor of the state would agree with that.

But there is a certain amount of responsibility that we have as individuals. And certain businesses are more vigilant than others, saying you can't come in this store-- I see that here, and I'm sure you do where you are-- unless you have a mask. And other store owners behave differently. And we're just going to see over the next weeks and months what's right and what isn't.

BRIAN SOZZI: Andy, you talked to an executive on one of the subsidiaries of General Dynamics. What did they tell you?

ANDY SERWER: Yeah, really interesting. It's a giant shipyard up here in Maine called the Bath Iron Works, which builds ships for the Navy. It's owned by General Dynamics, as you say. And they have a workforce of over 6,000. It is one of these classical, like right out of a Springsteen video kind of shipyard that streams out with thousands of people.

They've worked really, really hard to try to keep infections to a minimum. And amazingly, they've only had two cases of COVID out of the entire workforce. But they have gone to incredible lengths in terms of masks, disinfecting, social distancing.

And the CEO Dirk Lesko told me, he said I have no idea how much this costs. But I'm not really concerned about the cost. I'm concerned about keeping my people safe.

And so we can go back to work and do it in a safe way. But we have to follow all those different steps. And you've seen the stories about hospital workers and doctors in Boston actually having very low levels and very low rates of getting sick as well. But they're following all kinds of protocol. And I think that's what we really need to focus on, that we need to follow these protocols to make sure that all of us stay safe.

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: Yeah, stay vigilant. Don't have this false sense of security, right, now that we're starting to reopen. All right, Andy Serwer, thanks for that.

ANDY SERWER: Thanks.