A great experiment is underway in the United States. Led by a few states — notably, Georgia — we are trying to determine how and when to begin recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We know the risk: Allow people and businesses to ease away from restrictions put in place to limit the disease’s spread too quickly, and we could permit COVID-19 to come blasting back, at enormous cost in lives.

But we also recognize the hazard of not getting our nation “open” again. Terrible blows not just to the economy but to tens of millions of Americans will cause lasting damage. Economic sickness can kill, too.

It is far too early for some regions to relax COVID-19 limits. New York City residents will have to wait, for example.

Unfortunately, we lack the knowledge to say with precision just when we can begin reopening and how the process needs to be phased in. Places such as Georgia, which has taken the lead in allowing some businesses — including fitness centers, barbers and hair salons — to reopen will give us some of that critial information.

We hope and pray things go well in Georgia and in other areas where normalization efforts are being made. They are pioneering a path we all must take as soon as possible.