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Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at:
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An end to COVID-19 health orders in Nebraska
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An extended coronavirus emergency in Pennsylvania
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COVID-19 policy changes from this time last year
We are committed to keeping you updated on everything from mask requirements to vaccine-related policies. We will keep you abreast of major developments—especially those affecting your daily life. Want to know what we covered Thursday? Click here. |
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BALLOTPEDIA |
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The next 24 hours
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What is changing in the next 24 hours?
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Nebraska (Republican trifecta): On Monday, May 24, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) announced he would end all COVID-19 health orders at 11:59 p.m. Monday, including the requirement to quarantine if sick with COVID-19. Ricketts also announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 19.
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Since our last edition
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What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.
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Connecticut (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced the state will reinstate the weekly work search requirement for individuals receiving unemployment benefits effective May 30.
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Delaware (Democratic trifecta): Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks or social distance in most indoor or outdoor public settings, effective May 21. Percentage capacity restrictions ended for places of worship and most businesses (including restaurants and retailers), permitting facilities to use as much capacity as social distancing for unvaccinated people allows.
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Florida (Republican trifecta): On Monday, May 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.
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Georgia (Republican trifecta): The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency closed the eight remaining state-run mass vaccination sites on May 21 because of the availability of vaccines at local providers.
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Hawaii (Democratic trifecta): Gov. David Ige (D) announced the state will reinstate the weekly work search requirement for individuals receiving unemployment benefits effective May 30.
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Maine (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Janet Mills (D) is ending the statewide indoor mask requirement May 24. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said businesses can require people to show proof of vaccination, but “the state of Maine is not going to enforce this idea of different policies for vaccinated and unvaccinated people, nor do we expect businesses to do so.” The state recommends unvaccinated people continue masking in indoor public spaces. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people still have to wear masks in schools and childcare centers, on public transportation, and in health care settings. Capacity and social distancing requirements for most businesses are also ending May 24. Distancing requirements remain for indoor bars and restaurants.
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Massachusetts (divided government): On Monday, May 24, the state’s Homebound Vaccination Program expanded to include all eligible people who cannot get to a vaccination site to schedule an in-home vaccine appointment. The program, launched March 29, was originally restricted to people who met specific federal standards, which included requiring the assistance of two people to leave the house. The program is now open to anyone who cannot easily get to a vaccination site.
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Michigan (divided government): On Monday, May 10, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced she would end the requirement that businesses mandate remote work when feasible on May 24 because 55% of residents had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. On April 29, Whitmer announced a series of vaccination benchmarks that would end COVID-19 restrictions. The next set of restrictions—including capacity limits on stadiums and gyms and curfews on bars and restaurants—will be eased when 60% of residents have received at least one vaccine dose.
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New York (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced 10 mass vaccination sites open from May 24-28 will offer free $20 scratch-off lottery tickets to first-dose recipients 18 and older. The grand prize will be $5 million. To see a full list of the vaccination sites, click here.
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Pennsylvania (divided government): Gov. Tom Wolf (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order 90 days on May 20. Voters passed two ballot measures on May 18 to limit the governor’s emergency powers, but the constitutional amendments will not take effect until the election is certified. Certification is not expected until June 7. When the amendments take effect, the governor will only be able to issue 21-day state of emergency orders. After 21 days, the General Assembly will be able to extend or end emergency orders through a majority vote. When the amendments are certified, the legislature will vote to extend or end Wolf’s coronavirus emergency order.
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Rhode Island (Democratic trifecta): All remaining coronavirus restrictions, except the indoor mask requirement for unvaccinated people, ended May 21 for most industries. Restaurants, bars, places of worship, retailers, gyms, and most other businesses can operate with no capacity limits. To see guidance for each industry, click here.
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Vermont (divided government): On Friday, May 21, Gov. Phil Scott (R) announced the state will remove its remaining COVID-19 restrictions once 80% of eligible residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Vermont is currently scheduled to end its COVID-19 restrictions on July 4. At the time of Scott’s press conference, 70% of the eligible population had received at least one dose of a vaccine.
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Washington (Democratic trifecta): On Friday, May 21, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed a proclamation that protects workers who take time off to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or recover from side effects. Inslee also issued an updated mask order that, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest guidance, says fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a face covering.
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This time last year: Monday, May 25, 2020
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The first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020. But it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout March and April, many states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today. Each week, we’ll look back at some of the defining policy responses of the early coronavirus pandemic.
Here's what happened this time last year. To see a list of all policy changes in each category, click the links below.
Monday, May 25, 2020:
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Election changes:
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Judge J. Michelle Childs of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina issued a preliminary injunction barring election officials from enforcing South Carolina's witness requirement for absentee ballots in the June 9 primary and subsequent runoff elections.
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