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Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at:
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Changes to statewide mask mandates in Kentucky and Massachusetts
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Changes to coronavirus restrictions in New Jersey and New York
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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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Georgia (Republican trifecta): The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced it would close the eight remaining mass vaccination sites on May 21 because of the availability of vaccines at local providers.
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Kentucky (divided government): Gov. Andy Beshear (D) lifted the state’s outdoor mask requirement on all events and gatherings with fewer than 1,000 people. Previously, face coverings were required outdoors anytime 6-foot social distancing could not be maintained.
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Massachusetts (divided government): On Tuesday, April 26, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) announced he would end the statewide outdoor mask mandate and allow amusement and water parks to reopen at 50% capacity on May 10. Baker also announced he will increase the limit on indoor and outdoor gatherings on May 29, and end capacity restrictions on all businesses on Aug. 1.
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New Jersey (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced some mitigation restrictions will ease May 10. The outdoor gathering limit will expand from 200 to 500 people. Outdoor event venues with more than 1,000 fixed seats can expand to 50% capacity (currently, venues with 2,500 or more seats can operate at 35% capacity). Indoor catered events (including proms, weddings, and political events) can expand from 35% capacity with a maximum of 150 people to 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people. Indoor catered events will also be allowed to have dance floors with social distancing and mask-wearing.
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New York (Democratic trifecta):
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced the state will ease mitigation restrictions effective May 15. Casinos and gaming facilities will be allowed to expand from 25% to 50% capacity. Office spaces will expand from 50% to 75% capacity. Capacity limits on gyms and fitness centers outside of New York City will expand from 33% to 50%.
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State-defined large outdoor event venues (like professional sports stadiums and performing arts venues) can expand spectator capacity from 20% to 33% starting May 19.
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Tennessee (Republican trifecta): On Tuesday, April 27, Gov Bill Lee (R) issued an executive order ending county mayors’ authority in 89 counties to require masks. In Tennessee, the state health department has authority over 89 of the state’s 95 counties, and the department allowed counties to pass their own mask mandates. Lee asked independent health departments in Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan counties to end restrictions on businesses and mask requirements by May 30. Lee also ended all statewide health orders.
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Vaccine distribution
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We last looked at vaccine distribution in the April 22 edition of the newsletter. As of April 26, 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 1,775 lawsuits, in all 50 states, dealing in some way with the COVID-19 outbreak. Court orders have been issued, or settlements have been reached, in 534 of those lawsuits.
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Since April 20, we have added eight lawsuits to our database. We have also tracked an additional three court orders and/or settlements.
Details:
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Woodson v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: On April 12, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed suit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas challenging the state prison system’s garnishment of inmates’ COVID-19 federal stimulus payments. The ACLU alleges the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) unlawfully seized stimulus checks from inmates and held them "for weeks while it manufactured a basis, despite and contrary to the guidance of the Ohio Attorney General, to extract a portion of them” to pay court fees and the corrections department itself. The ACLU also alleged garnishment treated "people incarcerated in Ohio prisons differently from all other Ohioans," in violation of the prisoners' rights to equal protection under the Ohio Constitution. The ACLU is seeking "relief to prevent ODRC and prison staff from wrongfully withholding prisoners' relief funds." Alternatively, the ACLU seeks a court order "requiring Defendant ODRC to reverse its policy and to order all wrongfully garnished funds to be remitted to Plaintiffs." The ODRC has not responded publicly to the lawsuit. The case has been assigned to Judge Dan Hawkins (R).
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State mask requirements
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We last looked at face coverings in the April 20 edition of the newsletter. Since then, no new states have adopted a statewide public mask mandate or let a face-covering requirement expire.
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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 twenty-eight 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 20, no officials or candidates in our coverage scope have tested positive for, quarantined, or died as a result of COVID-19. |
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This time last year: Tuesday, April 28, 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, April 28, 2020:
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Federal government responses:
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President Donald Trump (R) signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to keep meat processing plants open throughout the country.
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