A sign lists precautions against Covid-19 near Tuba City, Arizona. Arizona is one of several states relaxing restrictions even as cases of the disease rise. | Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

Shutdowns prevented new coronavirus infections and saved lives, but it may be harder to use them again.

Several states are now seeing a surge in new Covid-19 coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. And the states with more alarming outbreaks — Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee — generally saw few cases early in the pandemic.

Many of these states have started to relax the restrictions on movement, businesses, and public gatherings that were meant to control the spread of Covid-19. But with infections rising, there will be more illnesses, deaths, and financial hardships for people who have already suffered immensely from this pandemic.

If cases continue to rise