Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout March and April, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today.
Here are the policy changes that happened April 27-May 1, 2020. This list is not comprehensive. To see a list of all policy changes in each category, click the links below.
Monday, April 27, 2020:
- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) allowed the statewide stay-at-home order to expire. He first enacted it on April 3. Mississippi’s stay-at-home order was the fourth to expire. Alaska ended its stay-at-home order first on April 24, while Montana and Colorado each ended theirs on April 26.
- The New York State Board of Elections canceled the Democratic presidential preference primary, which had been scheduled to take place on June 23, 2020.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
- President Trump (R) signed an executive order aimed at keeping meat processing plants open throughout the country. Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to designate meat processing plants as critical infrastructure.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
- Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) extended the statewide closure of schools to in-person instruction from April 30 to May 15.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
- Stay-at-home orders in Texas, Tennessee, Idaho, Georgia, and Alabama expired. By this point, governors had lifted nine stay-at-home orders. Thirty-four stay-at-home orders remained in place.
Friday, May 1, 2020
- South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced he was ending the executive order requiring visitors from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and New Orleans to self-quarantine for two weeks.
- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that public, private, and collegiate schools would remain closed for in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools were closed through May 15.
- North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced that public schools would remain closed for in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools were closed indefinitely.
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