“Raise Your Hand,” a monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, appears in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facilitated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders.

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At the hands of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism industry, the backbone of the local economy, and small businesses, approximately 99.3% of all local businesses, are in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. Every aspect of these usually bustling industries has been regulated to limit the spread of the virus. Travel has been restricted, hotels and tourist spots have been blocked off, and small businesses have been shuttering. Since then, the economy has been receding, and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed to a whopping 37%.

Historic economic downturns like the Great Depression offer insight as to how the continuous flow of money in the economy is essential to support a population. The New Deal was a series of programs designed to provide relief, reform, and recovery during the recession. It provided short term aid to the American citizens, which the vast majority was unemployed due to business closures, but ultimately generated massive debt for the government. It was only when factory jobs in support of the war opened did money again circulate in the economies.

Similarly, Hawaii’s economy is suffering from a lack of consumer spending due to business closures and people self-isolating. This hardship makes it unrealistic for people to both stay at home and support themselves amid the high unemployment rates. Several government-issued relief packages intend to lessen the effects of the dwindling economy.

Like the New Deal, the $2 trillion stimulus bill provides short-term relief for the nation, but it cannot solve the economic loss. The bill would be ineffective if the stay-at-home order continues as there is simply not enough money to support everyone. The worldwide depression nearly a century ago ended because people got jobs, and the same thing needs to happen today for the economy to recover.

Currently, the number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii is decreasing, but it is uncertain whether or not Hawaii will be at a better place by May 31. If people continue to practice social distancing and other safety measures, the rate of new cases should continue to drop. Should Hawaii reopen the economy afterwards, it should not be construed as an indication that all is well. While recovering economically, the state would also be recovering from both the short and long term impacts that COVID-19 has had on people’s daily lives.

Already, people are struggling, and if the reopening of the economy is prolonged, it would only get worse. Not only would people be at risk of contracting the virus, but they would be at risk of running their savings dry with little to no government aid available.

While the reopening of the economy is gradual, it is not without precaution. If approached carelessly, then the possibility of a spike in cases can occur. However, returning some people to work could also be a good public health effort. According to the director of risk management for ALTRES, the largest employer in the state of Hawaii, one method of immunization would be to have a steady flow of healthy people return to work in order to slowly build up herd-immunity.

Reopening of the economy is inevitable, and the amount of risk can be minimized depending on how cooperative the government and its citizens are. Extra precautions should be embraced as long as they offer some semblance of life returning to normal. Reopening the economy would provide us the opportunity to live our lives as we have envisioned it without any uncertainty or anxiety, but our actions today could drastically change that.

Vivian Hui is a student at Moanalua High School, class of 2021.