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Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at:
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The end of the coronavirus emergency in Oklahoma
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Changes in coronavirus restrictions in Washington
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Vaccine distribution
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Lawsuits about state actions and policies
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State-level mask requirements
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Diagnosed or quarantined public officials
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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 curfews to vaccine-related policies. We will keep you abreast of major developments—especially those affecting your daily life. Want to know what we covered yesterday? Click here. |
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BALLOTPEDIA |
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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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Alabama (Republican trifecta): Gov. Kay Ivey (R) extended the Safer Apart public health order until May 31 and the coronavirus emergency order until July 6. Ivey said she will not extend the orders further.
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Maryland (divided government): On Monday, May 3, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced an initiative to pay state employees who receive a coronavirus vaccine $100. The program will apply retroactively to state employees who have already gotten vaccinated.
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Nevada (Democratic trifecta): On Monday, May 3, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) issued an emergency directive updating the statewide mask mandate order to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest guidance. The updated language states that people “shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or face covering in a manner consistent with current guidance issued by the CDC, and any subsequent guidance issued by the CDC.”
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New Jersey (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced capacity restrictions on most businesses (including restaurants, retailers, and personal care service businesses) will end May 19. The businesses will still have to leave space for social distancing.
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New York (Democratic trifecta):
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Gov Andrew Cuomo (D) announced capacity restrictions on most businesses (including restaurants, retailers, and personal care service businesses) will end May 19. The businesses will still have to leave space for social distancing.
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Cuomo also announced the state will loosen gathering restrictions. On May 10, the outdoor social gathering limit (which applies to organized social events like weddings) will expand from 200 to 500 people. On May 19, the indoor social gathering limit will expand from 100 to 250 people. The 25-person outdoor residential gathering limit (for events like cookouts) will also be replaced by a 500-person outdoor social gathering limit on May 19. The indoor residential gathering limit will increase from 10 to 50 people on the same day. Commercial social events can exceed the 500-person outdoor and 250-person indoor limits if everyone has proof of vaccination or a recent negative test and social distancing is possible.
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Large event venues (like sports stadiums) will be able to operate at 30% capacity indoors and 33% capacity outdoors starting May 19. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative test will be required for attendance.
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Oklahoma (Republican trifecta): On Monday, May 3, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced that he would end the statewide COVID-19 state of emergency. The emergency ended Tuesday, May 4.
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Ohio (Republican trifecta): On Monday, May 3, Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that fully vaccinated nursing home and assisted living facility staff no longer need to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. However, unvaccinated staff will be required to undergo two tests per week.
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Washington (Democratic trifecta): On Monday, May 3, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued updated guidance for spectator events and religious services. The new guidance for spectator events, including sporting events and graduations, allows indoor and outdoor facilities to increase capacity by adding sections for fully vaccinated people. Outdoor events can increase capacity to 50% or 22,000 people, whichever is less. Unvaccinated people cannot comprise more than 9,000 total people. Indoor facilities can expand capacity to 50% or 2000 people, whichever is fewer. For counties in Phase 2 of reopening, facilities cannot allow more than 200 unvaccinated people, or 300 for areas larger than 100,000 square feet. For counties in Phase 3 of reopening, facilities cannot allow more than 400 people, or 600 for rooms with more than 100,000 square feet. For religious facilities in Phase 2 counties, capacity can increase to 50% with vaccinated-only sections.
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Vaccine distribution
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We last looked at vaccine distribution in the April 29 edition of the newsletter. As of May 3, the states with the highest vaccination rates as a percentage of total population (including children) were:
The states with the lowest rates were:
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Lawsuits about state actions and policies
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Read more: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
Overview:
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To date, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,781 lawsuits, in 50 states, dealing in some way with the COVID-19 outbreak. Court orders have been issued, or settlements have been reached, in 535 of those lawsuits.
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Since April 27, we have added six lawsuits to our database. We have also tracked one additional court order and/or settlement.
Details:
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Holcomb v. Bray: On April 30, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita (R) filed a motion to strike a lawsuit brought by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) against the Indiana General Assembly. Holcomb filed the lawsuit after state lawmakers overrode his veto of HEA1123, which gives the General Assembly the authority to convene emergency legislative sessions when the governor has declared a state of emergency. Holcomb argues that the General Assembly "impermissibly attempted," through HEA1123, to usurp "power given exclusively to the governor under Article 4 § 9 of the Indiana Constitution" in order to curb his COVID-19 public safety orders and gubernatorial orders issued during future states of emergency. Meanwhile, Rokita asserts that, under state law, "the Indiana Attorney General alone holds the authority to represent the state, state agencies, or state officials acting in their official capacities.” In a press statement, Holcomb said, "This filing is about the future of the executive branch and all the governors who will serve long after I’m gone." Rokita said that allowing Holcomb's lawsuit to proceed would "fracture foundational legal principles" and work against the "broader interests of the state and the will of the people." The case is pending in Marion County Superior Court.
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State mask requirements
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We last looked at face coverings in the April 27 edition of the newsletter. Since then, Louisiana’s statewide public mask requirement expired on April 28.
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Diagnosed or quarantined politicians identified by Ballotpedia
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Read more: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
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Federal
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Three federal officials have died of COVID-19.
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Sixty-five members of Congress have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
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Forty-one federal officials have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
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State
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Ten state-level incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
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Two hundred thirty state-level incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
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Eighty-six state-level incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
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Local
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At least five local incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
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At least 42 local incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
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At least 26 local incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
Since April 27, one state senator and one state representative have tested positive for COVID-19.
Details:
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On April 28, Arizona state Rep. Alma Hernandez (D) announced she tested positive for COVID-19.
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On April 29, Louisiana state Sen. Michael Fesi (R) announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
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This time last year: Tuesday, May 5, 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.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
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School closures:
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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) announced that K-12 public schools would remain closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools were closed through May 20.
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Election changes:
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Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D) issued an executive order waiving the petition requirement for candidates who cannot afford to pay the filing fees associated with the offices being sought.
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Judge Norman Moon, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, approved a settlement between the parties in League of Women Voters of Virginia v. Virginia State Board of Elections. As a result, the witness requirement for absentee voting in the June 23 primary was suspended.
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Judge Analisa Torres, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, ordered the New York State Board of Elections to reinstate the June 23 Democratic presidential preference primary, which the board had previously canceled.
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