Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: November 20, 2020 #Edition #134

By

Ballotpedia staff

Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery, where we track the status of reopening in all 50 states and summarize major changes due to the coronavirus pandemic in politics, government, and elections. Today we look at changes to Hawaii’s travel program, limits on gatherings in Wyoming, and much more. Want to know what we covered yesterday? Click here.

The next 24 hours

What is changing in the next 24 hours?

  • California (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced nonessential work, movement, and gatherings will be prohibited between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. every night in purple-tier counties starting Nov. 21.

Since our last edition

What is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here.

  • Arkansas (Republican trifecta): Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) announced restaurants, bars, and clubs that serve alcohol will have to close by 11 p.m. every night, starting Nov. 20.
  • Hawaii (Democratic trifecta): Gov. David Ige (D) updated the state’s pre-travel testing requirements. Under the new rules, out-of-state travelers must present proof of a negative coronavirus test on arrival to avoid the state’s 14-day self-quarantine requirement. Travelers can no longer submit test results after they arrive.
  • Iowa (Republican trifecta): On Thursday, Nov. 19, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced she would allocate $14 million in federal CARES Act funding to assist long-term care facilities with testing and staffing. 
  • Maine (Democratic trifecta): Businesses such as restaurants, bars, clubs, movie theaters, casinos, and other amusement venues will have to close by 9 p.m. every night starting Nov. 20. 
  • New Hampshire (divided government): On Thursday, Nov. 20, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) announced he was issuing a statewide mask mandate requiring anyone over the age of five to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. The order also requires masks in outdoor settings when social distancing isn’t possible. The order takes effect Friday, Nov. 20. 
  • New York (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) designated areas in Westchester, Rockland, and Orange counties as yellow mitigation zones. The yellow level limits indoor dining to four customers at a table and religious services to 50% capacity.
  • Ohio (Republican trifecta): On Nov. 19, the Ohio Senate sent Gov. Mike DeWine (R) Senate Bill 311, which would prohibit the Ohio Department of Health from issuing mandatory quarantine orders against people who have not tested positive for COVID-19 or come into direct contact with an infected individual. DeWine said he would veto the bill, which passed 58-30. The Senate could override the veto with the support of three-fifths of the chamber.  
  • Rhode Island (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) announced new coronavirus restrictions. Social gatherings among members from outside of a single household are banned, effective Nov. 19. Starting Nov. 30, bar areas, recreational venues (like bowling alleys), gyms, and in-person college and university instruction will be closed. Indoor dining will be limited to 33% capacity, and retailers will be limited to one customer per 100 square feet. Religious services will be limited to 25% capacity with a maximum of 125 people.  
  • Utah (Republican trifecta): On Thursday, Nov. 19, Gov. Gary Herbert (R) announced he would remove language prohibiting social gatherings between different households from an order he planned to issue before Thanksgiving. 
  • Wyoming (Republican trifecta): On Thursday, Nov. 19, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced he would limit indoor gatherings to 25 people if social distancing isn’t possible. If social distancing is possible, then the limit is 25% capacity up to 100 people. The limit on outdoor gatherings will be capped at 50% capacity up to 250 people. The order will take effect Nov. 24.