More than a dozen states relaxed their stay-at-home orders Friday, but some southern states began lifting restrictions earlier, allowing beauty salons, restaurants and other businesses to reopen at their discretion. The iconic Waffle House chain resumed limited dine-in service this week at 400 locations across Georgia and Tennessee. Company CEO Walt Ehmer joins Amna Nawaz to discuss the move.

We honor a few of the tens of thousands of Americans from all corners of the country who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Judy Woodruff shares five remembrances.

New government jobs numbers reiterate the extent of the pandemic's economic damage. In the last six weeks, more than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, including another 3.8 million filing for unemployment last week. Lawmakers are still debating how to provide financial assistance to states during the crisis, as federal social distancing guidelines expire. Yamiche Alcindor reports.

As the debate over reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the country, many states are beginning to lift restrictions. Wyoming is one of them -- with a relatively low number of cases, businesses there will start to open Friday. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who is also a physician, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the pandemic and why it's "too early" to talk about state bankruptcies.

The World Health Organization held a rare emergency meeting Thursday to discuss the ongoing global health crisis -- and an escalating diplomatic battle with the U.S., its largest funder. President Trump has frozen contributions to WHO, blaming it for echoing China in its early response to COVID-19. Nick Schifrin talks to Duke University's Dr. Michael Merson and Stanford University's Lanhee Chen.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has now surpassed 60,000, but there are some signs of hope. An international study run by the National Institutes of Health found encouraging results in a trial of the experimental drug remdesivir among hospitalized patients. Meanwhile, U.S. GDP shrank during the first quarter of the year, but experts warn the second will be "much worse." Stephanie Sy reports.

Testing, both for active cases of COVID-19 and for antibodies indicating prior exposure to the disease, will be critical to resuming economic activity. In addition, scientists are racing to develop therapies for people who do get infected -- especially those who become seriously ill. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest on COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Roughly 14 percent of students enrolled in U.S. public schools receive special education services. As families across the nation grapple with home learning, what are the particular challenges the parents of these children face? Judy Woodruff reports and talks to Selene Almazan of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit aiming to protect the rights of children with disabilities.

Nine states have begun lifting pandemic restrictions in a bid to revive struggling economies. Many small businesses have tried to secure financial relief from the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program -- but the initiative's second round has been plagued with technical problems. Meanwhile, some officials worry that without expanded testing, reopening is unsafe. Amna Nawaz reports.

Demand remains high for relief the federal Paycheck Protection Program is making available for smaller businesses. But the distribution of that money continues to be a source of controversy, and the program has been mired with technical problems. Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to the Main Street Alliance's Amanda Ballantyne and Brad Close of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.