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Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. 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. Today we look at:
- Changes in coronavirus restrictions in New Jersey
- An extended mask requirement in Mississippi
- School closures and reopenings
- Travel restrictions
- Federal responses
Want to know what we covered yesterday? Click here.
The next 24 hours
What is changing in the next 24 hours?
- New Jersey (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed an order allowing food and drink establishments and entertainment and recreational venues (like casinos and gyms) to increase capacity from 25% to 35%, starting Feb. 5. The order also lifts the 10 p.m. nightly indoor dining curfew, which had been in place since Nov. 12.
- New York (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced the Yankee Stadium mass vaccination site will begin administering vaccines to Bronx residents who meet the state’s Phase 1a and 1b eligibility requirements starting Feb. 5. The site is scheduled to offer 15,000 appointments during the first week.
Since our last edition
What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.
- Delaware (Democratic trifecta): Gov. John Carney (D) announced places of worship and businesses like restaurants, gyms, and retailers will be able to expand their capacity to 50% starting Feb. 12. Currently, most businesses are limited to 30% capacity, and retailers larger than 100,000 square feet are limited to 20% capacity.
- Mississippi (Republican trifecta): Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s regional mask order and Safe Return order (including the 10-person indoor and 50-person outdoor gathering limits) until March 3 at 5 p.m.
- South Carolina (Republican trifecta): Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced individuals age 65 and older will be able to schedule vaccination appointments starting Feb. 8. Currently, appointments are limited to individuals age 70 and older.
- South Dakota (Republican trifecta): On Feb. 3, the South Dakota Department of Health announced that people age 75 and older will be eligible for vaccination starting Feb. 8. Previously, Phase 1D only allowed people age 80 and over to receive a vaccine.
School closures and reopenings
Read more: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year
Overview:
- Washington, D.C., had a district-ordered school closure.
- 2016-17 enrollment: 85,850 students (0.17% of students nationwide)
- Five states (Calif., Del., Hawaii, N.M., W.Va.) had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
- 2016-17 enrollment: 7,237,070 students (14.31% of students nationwide)
- Four states (Ark., Fla., Iowa, Texas) had state-ordered in-person instruction.
- 2016-17 enrollment: 9,180,918 students (18.15% of students nationwide)
- Forty-one states left decisions to schools or districts.
- 2016-17 enrollment: 34,084,021 students (67.38% of students nationwide)
Details:
- Iowa - On Jan. 29, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a bill requiring school districts to provide in-person instruction five days a week. Under the law, parents can still request a hybrid or all remote option for their children, and schools can request a waiver from the Department of Education based on factors such as the number of teachers quarantining because of the virus. The bill passed the state House and Senate with the support of all Republicans and one Democrat and has a Feb. 15 deadline for schools to offer full-time in-person instruction.
- North Carolina - On Feb. 2, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced new school guidance and encouraged public K-12 schools to reopen for full-time in-person instruction. The guidance says elementary schools should reopen under Plan A, which does not require social distancing. Middle and high schools should reopen under Plan B, which does require social distancing. Cooper said he wanted to leave the final reopening decisions to school districts. Districts still have to provide a remote learning option for families that choose to opt into remote learning.
Travel restrictions
Read more: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
Overview:
- Since the start of the pandemic, governors or state agencies in 27 states issued executive orders placing restrictions on out-of-state visitors. At least 14 of those orders have been rescinded.
- Since Jan. 28, one state has amended its travel restrictions.
Details:
- Rhode Island - On Feb. 1, the Rhode Island Department of Health removed Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming from its travel restrictions list. Travelers arriving in Rhode Island from those states are not required to quarantine for 14 days. Thirty-three states remain on the list.
Federal responses
Read more: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- On Jan. 28, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued guidelines for celebrating the NFL Super Bowl. The guidelines encourage people to stay home and watch the Super Bowl with other members of the household. For people attending the Super Bowl or a watch party, the CDC recommends social distancing, mask-wearing, and avoiding restrooms during high-traffic times. The CDC also says participants should refrain from chanting and cheering.
- On Jan. 29, the CDC issued an order requiring all passengers in the United States using public transportation to wear a face mask that fully covers the nose and mouth. This rule applies to those traveling by plane, bus, subway, train, ferry, or ride-share vehicle and states that masks must be worn when boarding transportation, for the duration of travel, and when disembarking from transportation. The CDC said that although it could enforce the order with criminal penalties, it would be relying on voluntary compliance for now. The order took effect at 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 1.
- On Feb. 1, White House COVID-19 advisor Andy Slavitt announced the federal government signed a $231.8 million deal with digital diagnostics company Ellume to support the manufacture and distribution of its COVID-19 Home Test. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Dec. 15.
- On Feb. 2, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients announced the federal government would begin sending coronavirus vaccines directly to pharmacies beginning Feb. 11. The first shipment of 1 million doses will go to 6,500 locations. Pharmacies will still need to follow state vaccine distribution plans.
- On Feb. 2, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) announced that face coverings are required for all staff and visitors in NPS facilities and outdoors when social distancing can't be maintained.
Additional activity
In this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, private industry responses, and lawsuits related to the pandemic.
- On Wednesday, Feb. 3, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued the San Francisco Unified School District and Board of Education to force school administrators to return students to classrooms. According to the lawsuit, administrators violated a state requirement to provide in-person instruction whenever possible during the pandemic.
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