|
|
|
Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at:
-
A first VaxCash drawing in Maryland
-
The end of COVID-19 health orders in Nebraska
-
Vaccine distribution
-
Lawsuits about state actions and policies
-
State-level mask requirements
-
Diagnosed or quarantined public officials
-
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 yesterday? Click here. |
|
|
|
BALLOTPEDIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please join us tomorrow at 11 am CT as our team looks back on a year of documenting America’s path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. We’ll dive into important definitions, give you an update on where things stand, and give you topline context. If you have any questions for our panelist, please submit them here.
Register here! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since our last edition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.
-
Alabama (Republican trifecta): Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed a bill prohibiting the government from issuing “standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying immunization status.” The bill also prohibits state agencies, schools, and businesses from requiring individuals to prove their vaccination status to access facilities or services.
-
Maryland (divided government): On Tuesday, May 25, the Maryland Lottery held its first VaxCash drawing, resulting in one vaccinated resident receiving a $40,000 prize. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the initiative, which he established to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, on May 20. The daily drawing lasts from May 25 to July 4, and will award $2 million to 41 vaccinated residents.
-
Massachusetts (divided government): On Tuesday, May 25, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said he planned to file legislation to extend some coronavirus regulations beyond June 15, when the COVID-19 emergency expires. Although Baker plans to lift most COVID-19 restrictions on May 29, he said he wants to temporarily maintain executive orders that allow public bodies to meet remotely and restaurants to file expedited permits for outdoor dining. The legislation will also continue an order that provides billing protections for COVID-19 patients.
-
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.
-
New Jersey (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced he will end the indoor mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated people starting May 28. Murphy said the six-foot social distancing requirement will end on the same day. Dance floors and standing service at bars and restaurants will also be permitted.
-
On June 4, all remaining gathering limits will end, and capacity restrictions on large indoor venues (with fixed seating capacity of 1,000 people or more) will be lifted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vaccine distribution
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We last looked at vaccine distribution in the May 20 edition of the newsletter.
As of May 24, the states with the highest vaccination rates as a percentage of total population (including children) were: Vermont (70%); Hawaii (65%); Massachusetts (65%); New Hampshire (64%); Connecticut (62%).
The states with the lowest rates were: Mississippi (33%); Louisiana (35%); Alabama (36%); Wyoming (36%); Idaho (37%).
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lawsuits about state actions and policies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read more: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
Overview:
-
To date, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,800 lawsuits, in 50 states, dealing in some way with the COVID-19 outbreak. Court orders have been issued, or settlements have been reached, in 540 of those lawsuits.
-
Since May 18, we have added six lawsuits to our database. We have also tracked an additional three court orders and/or settlements.
Details:
-
LeDuff v. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: On May 19, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reached a settlement with journalist Charlie LeDuff, ending a lawsuit over the release of statistical information related to the state’s COVID-19 deaths. LeDuff filed the lawsuit on March 9 after MDHHS denied his Freedom of Information Act request for information about the number of deaths related to COVID-19 in December 2020. LeDuff alleged the MDHHS incorrectly applied a privacy exemption to his request. LeDuff requested all information sought in his original FOIA request in unredacted form, including the ages of those who died, the dates of their deaths, the date each death was added to the state total, and any information about whether those deaths resulted from contracting COVID-19 at a long-term care facility. According to the settlement, MDHHS disclosed the requested records or certified that the requested records did not exist. LeDuff agreed to dismiss the suit with prejudice. LeDuff said, "This is a win for the people of Michigan, and I'm glad this lawsuit was able to shed some light." MDHHS spokesman Bob Wheaton said the department was "strongly committed to protecting residents of long-term care facilities from COVID-19 and to sharing data with the public related to the pandemic."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State mask requirements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We last looked at face coverings in the May 18 edition of the newsletter. Since then, Maine’s statewide mask mandate ended for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diagnosed or quarantined politicians identified by Ballotpedia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read more: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
-
Federal
-
Three federal officials have died of COVID-19.
-
Sixty-five members of Congress have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
-
Forty-one federal officials have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
-
State
-
Ten state-level incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
-
Two hundred thirty-three state-level incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
-
Eighty-six state-level incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
-
Local
-
At least five local incumbents or candidates have died of COVID-19.
-
At least 43 local incumbents or candidates have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
-
At least 26 local incumbents or candidates have quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19.
Since May 18, no candidates or officeholders have been diagnosed with, died from, or quarantined because of COVID-19.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This time last year: Tuesday, May 26, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 26, 2020:
Travel restrictions: Delaware Gov. John Carney Jr. (D) announced he would end travel restrictions on out-of-state visitors on June 1.
Federal government responses: President Donald Trump (R) banned foreign travelers who had been in Brazil in the last 14 days from entering the United States. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Access to Ballotpedia is free 365 days per year... but Ballotpedia is not free to operate. Every dollar given to Ballotpedia helps ensure we continue to expand our coverage of all elections in the United States. Provide your support today and give the gift of unbiased political and policy information to all Ballotpedia readers. |
|
|
|
|
|
