The next 72 hours

What is changing in the next 72 hours?

• Iowa (Republican trifecta): People age 65 and older will become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on Feb. 1.

• Kentucky (divided government): Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced only individuals in Phase 1B (including people age 70 and older) of vaccine distribution will be prioritized starting Feb. 1. Previously, individuals in Phase 1B and Phase 1C were scheduled to become eligible at the same time. Beshear also announced regional vaccination centers will begin administering doses on Feb. 2 and released a website to help residents check their eligibility and find locations. 

• Maine (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced she will end the order requiring businesses like restaurants, bars, and indoor and outdoor amusement venues to close nightly by 9 p.m., effective Feb. 1. The order was first implemented Nov. 20.

• Maryland (divided government): Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he will end the order requiring bars and restaurants to close nightly by 10 p.m. effective Feb. 1. The order was first implemented Nov. 17. 

• Massachusetts (divided government): Residents age 75 and older can begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine on Feb. 1. Fenway Park is also scheduled to join Gillette Stadium as a mass vaccination site on Feb 1. 

• Michigan (divided government): Indoor dining will resume on Feb. 1. On that day, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) will issue a new order that will also allow non-residential gatherings of up to 10 people from two households.

• Ohio (Republican trifecta): On Feb. 1, vaccine eligibility will expand to people 70 and older and K-12 staff and teachers who want to return to in-person learning.

• Tennessee (Republican trifecta): On Thursday, Jan. 28, Gov. Bill Lee (R) announced he would lift restrictions on spectators and participants at indoor and outdoor school sporting events beginning Feb. 1. On that day, cheerleaders will be permitted to perform at games, and the general public will be allowed to attend them. 

• Washington (Democratic trifecta): On Thursday, Jan. 28, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) changed the criteria for regions to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the state’s Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. Under the new plan, regions will only need to meet two of the four public health metrics to move into Phase 2. Previously, regions had to meet all four of the metrics. Inslee also said the Department of Health will reevaluate each region’s progress every two weeks instead of every week. Because of these changes to the plan, Inslee said two of the state’s eight regions will automatically move into Phase 2 beginning Feb. 1. 

Since our last edition

What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here.

• Indiana (Republican trifecta): On Thursday, Jan. 28, Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) extended the coronavirus public health emergency an additional 30 days.

• Wisconsin (divided government): On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Wisconsin state Assembly postponed voting on a resolution overturning Gov. Tony Evers’s (D) coronavirus emergency order, including the statewide mask mandate. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) postponed the vote after the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, a nonpartisan agency that provides fiscal analysis to legislators, issued a memo that found approving the measure could jeopardize federal funding for the state’s food stamps program. The state Senate passed the resolution 18-13 on Jan. 26. No Democrats voted for the resolution, while two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it.