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Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at a school reopening agreement in North Carolina, changes in coronavirus restrictions in Texas, and much more. Want to know what we covered yesterday? Click here.
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.
The next 24 hours
What is changing in the next 24 hours?
- Massachusetts (divided government): K-12 teachers and staff will become eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, March 11.
- Ohio (Republican trifecta): People 50 and older will become eligible for a coronavirus vaccine on March 11. People with Type 2 Diabetes and end-stage renal disease will also become eligible on that day.
Since our last edition
What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.
- Alaska (divided government): On March 9, Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) removed all eligibility requirements to receive vaccines. Alaska is the first state to allow anyone age 16 or older who lives or works in the state to make appointments.
- Illinois (Democratic trifecta): A federal vaccination site is opening at United Center on March 10. The site can administer up to 6,000 vaccines a day. Residents age 65 and older started scheduling appointments to receive vaccinations at the site on March 4. Other people in Phase 1b, including anyone with high-risk conditions and some frontline essential workers, started scheduling appointments on March 7.
- Louisiana (divided government): On March 9, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) expanded vaccine eligibility to anyone age 16 years or older with state-defined high-risk conditions (including anyone overweight, with asthma, or with type 1 diabetes). Congregate living staff can also get vaccines, including prison guards, group home staff, and homeless shelter workers.
- Maryland (divided government): On Tuesday, March 9, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he would end capacity limits on most types of businesses, including restaurants, bars, and fitness centers, on March 12 at 5 p.m. Large outdoor and indoor venues, including theaters, wedding venues, and sporting venues, will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Additionally, Hogan said he will end the state’s quarantine requirements for out-of-state travelers and allow adult daycare centers to reopen. The statewide mask mandate will remain in effect.
- Michigan (divided government): On Tuesday, March 9, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a $2.5 billion COVID-19 relief bill, which includes funding for rental assistance, vaccine administration, and testing and tracing.
- New York (Democratic trifecta): People age 60 or older are eligible for vaccination starting March 10. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced public-facing government and non-profit employees can receive vaccines starting March 17.
- Oklahoma (Republican trifecta): On Tuesday, March 9, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced that residents of long-term care facilities can designate people, including family members, to be essential caregivers, so long as those caregivers complete state-certified training. Caregivers who complete the training are permitted to visit residents in the facilities so long as masks are worn and both the resident and the caregiver have either been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID-19.
- North Carolina (divided government): On Wednesday, March 10, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced an agreement with House and Senate Republicans and Democrats that would return all elementary schools to in-person instruction, while middle and high schools will be permitted to choose between a hybrid approach and in-person instruction on a district-by-district basis. Under the law, parents can choose to keep their kids at home. The plan will go into effect 21 days after Cooper signs the bill.
- Oregon (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced that effective March 12-25, two counties will be in the state’s Extreme Risk level, nine will be at High Risk, 12 will be at Moderate Risk, and 13 will have Lower Risk restrictions. In the current period from Feb. 26 - March 11, five counties are in the state’s Extreme Risk level, 11 are at High Risk, 10 are at Moderate Risk, and 10 have Lower Risk restrictions. To see restrictions in a specific county or risk level, click here.
- Texas (Republican trifecta): On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an order ending the statewide mask mandate and allowing all businesses to open at 100% capacity beginning March 10. If COVID-19 hospitalizations exceed 15% of hospital bed capacity in any of the state’s 22 hospital regions for seven consecutive days, then a county judge may impose some restrictions. Those restrictions cannot include capacity limits below 50%. The order also prohibits jurisdictions from penalizing people for not wearing face coverings.
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