A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2020

By

Samuel Wonacott

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 the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates.

Here are the policy changes that happened Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, 2020. To read more of our past coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, click here. 

Monday, Sept. 28, 2020

Federal government responses:

  • President Donald Trump (R) announced the federal government would send the first batch of a planned 100 million rapid coronavirus tests developed by Abbott Laboratories to states. The first shipment was expected to total 6.5 million tests. The tests would be distributed to states based on population data.

Eviction and foreclosure policies:

  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) extended the statewide moratorium on residential evictions through Jan. 1, 2021.
  • Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) extended the statewide moratorium on residential evictions through Dec. 31. The new order did not apply to commercial evictions.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020

Stay-at-home orders and reopening plans:

  • Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced that workers and children in daycares and schools were no longer required to quarantine if they came into contact with a person with COVID-19 while wearing a mask. According to the guidance, only the infected individual with COVID-19 was required to quarantine.

Election changes:

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana Judge Sarah Barker issued an order extending the postmark and receipt deadline for absentee/mail-in ballots in Indiana to Nov. 3 and Nov. 13, respectively.
  • A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld a district court decision extending voter registration and absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines in Wisconsin.

State court changes:

  • The Virginia Supreme Court issued an order extending the statewide judicial emergency through Oct. 11. The order continued requirements like face coverings in courthouses. Courts were still encouraged to conduct as much business as possible remotely. Jury trials remained prohibited in all but 10 jurisdictions at this time. 

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020

Stay-at-home orders and reopening plans:

  • The California Department of Public Health announced new guidelines that permitted outdoor playgrounds to reopen statewide.
  • Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) released an executive order eliminating coronavirus restrictions on businesses and gatherings in 89 of the state’s 95 counties. Six counties, including Shelby, operated according to rules made by their respective health departments.

Federal government responses:

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended a ban on cruise ships with a carrying capacity of more than 250 people through Oct. 31. The no-sail order prohibited passenger operations on cruise ships in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction. 

Mask requirements:

  • Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) allowed the statewide public mask order to expire but said individuals still had to wear masks in schools and at businesses the state defined as close-contact (like barbershops and salons).

Eviction and foreclosure policies:

  • Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) extended the statewide moratorium on evictions through Jan. 1. The moratorium was set to expire on Oct. 1.

Thursday, October 1, 2020 

Stay-at-home orders and reopening plans:

  • Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) raised the gathering limit from 50 to 250 people, and allowed sports venues with more than 2,500 seats to reopen at 10% capacity if they submitted a plan and received approval from state and local officials.
  • Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Department of Health Services-designee Andrea Palm issued an order easing licensing requirements for healthcare workers during the state of emergency. The order allowed healthcare workers from other states to receive temporary licenses in Wisconsin and made it easier for workers with lapsed licenses to reapply.
  • The Arizona Department of Health Services announced all 15 counties in the state met the requirements to allow businesses like movie theaters and gyms to reopen. Food service at bars was also allowed to resume. 
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) allowed nursing homes to resume visitations in counties with a COVID-19 positivity rate below 10%. However, any facility that reopened to visitors and registered a coronavirus case was required to close to visitors for two weeks.

Federal government responses:

  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would return control of supplies of remdesivir to Gilead Sciences, the biopharmaceutical company that manufactures the COVID-19 drug. Previously, HHS had distributed the drug to states and territories, but a representative for the agency said demand has fallen. Because of the decline in demand, Gilead would sell the drug to hospitals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Remdesivir emergency use authorization in May 2020.
  • The National Park Service (NPS) reopened. Visitors were required to acquire tickets online, and masks were required inside the monument.

Election changes:

  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) issued a proclamation limiting the number of return locations for absentee/mail-in ballots to one per county.

Eviction and foreclosure policies:

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) allowed the statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures to expire.

Friday, October 2, 2020

Stay-at-home orders and reopening plans:

  • North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) allowed the state to advance to Phase 3 of reopening. Phase 3 eased several restrictions on businesses, including allowing bars to provide outdoor service at 30% or 100 guests, whichever was less. Movie theaters were also allowed to reopen at 30% capacity or 100 guests. Large outdoor venues were permitted to operate at 7% capacity.
  • The Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) lacked the authority to issue pandemic-related executive orders after April 30, 2020, when the legislature declined to extend the emergency and disaster declarations. The court ruled the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act (EPGA) of 1945—which was one of two laws on which Whitmer justified her orders—violated the Michigan constitution.
  • South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) issued an executive order lifting capacity limits on restaurants.

Election changes:

  • A three-judge panel of the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) could direct counties to offer multiple drop-box locations for returning absentee/mail-in ballots. The panel stopped short of requiring LaRose to do so, overturning a lower court decision to that effect.
  • Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins approved a settlement extending North Carolina’s absentee/mail-in ballot return receipt deadline from Nov. 6 to Nov. 12.
  • A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reinstated Georgia’s Nov. 3 receipt deadlines for absentee/mail-in ballots.

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