Lexington County residents, workers and business owners are taking tentative steps toward reopening.

Restaurants served patrons outside respecting social distancing, their wait staffs in gloves, masks and smiling with their eyes.

SC Restaurant & Lodging Association Chairman Bobby Williams whose family owns the Lizards Thicket chain said he expects restaurants may start serving inside next week but at 50% of capacity to respect distancing needs.

Facing an extended summer break, teachers say they are eager to get back to classrooms and students where they think they are more effective than online.

Truckers and other travelers are eager to get on their way and put covid-19 in their rear view mirrors.

Recovery rates

State officials estimate that about 74% of covid-19 patients have recovered, up from 72% last week.

The Department of Health & Environmental Control reported no new Lexington County deaths Monday but confirmed 12 new cases.

That brings the county’s death rate to 17 and total cases to 432.

Columbia and Richland County reported 2 more deaths and 13 new cases.

To date, 42 people in Richland County have died of the disease, and 977 have been infected.

Financial help

Because the $2.2 trillion Paycheck Protection Program money ran out a week ago, Congress is working on an extension, this time to make sure that billion-dollar companies and their banks don’t get all the money.

Among concerns are:

• To ensure banks help small businesses with loans.

• The loans are forgivable even if some employees receiving $600 a week in US unemployment pay don’t come back to work.

• Small businesses are protected from unwarranted liability lawsuits.

Gov. Henry McMaster lifted restrictions on many so-called non-essential businesses but left it up to local officials to decide what is best for their communities.

On a bright note, volunteers spent 5 hours at Lexington Medical Center’s Extended Care nursing home in Lexington painting pictures on residents’ windows.