Author: Samuel Wonacott
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Delaware Governor will end travel restrictions June 1
On May 26, Gov. John Carney (D) announced that restrictions on travelers entering Delaware will expire on June 1, the same day the state is scheduled to begin the first phase of its reopening plan. Carney issued the restrictions, which require travelers who enter the state to self-quarantine for 14 days, on March 29 in…
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Michigan legislature asks state Supreme Court to take up lawsuit challenging governor’s emergency powers
On Friday, May 22, Republicans in the Michigan Senate and House asked the Michigan Supreme Court to consider a lawsuit filed by House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R) and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R) challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) emergency declarations issued in response to the coronavirus. A Michigan Court of Claims Judge ruled against…
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Illinois state representative tests positive for COVID-19
Illinois state representative Edgar Gonzales Jr. (D) announced in a Facebook post on May 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Gonzales was appointed to represent District 21 in January, 2020, to fill the vacancy left by former Rep. Celina Villanueva (D), who was appointed to the…
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Travel restrictions on Brazil go into effect Tuesday
The White House on Sunday fast-tracked a proclamation prohibiting travelers from Brazil from entering the United States, moving the date the restrictions take effect from Thursday, May 28, to Tuesday, May 26 at midnight. The proclamation prohibits foreign travelers who have been in Brazil in the last 14 days prior to trying to enter the…
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Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann tests positive for COVID-19
On May, 21, 2020, Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann announced she tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Lehrmann made the announcement on Twitter, noting that her husband had also tested positive. Justices on the Texas Supreme Court are working remotely during the pandemic. Lehrmann is the first statewide Texas…
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U.S. extends travel restrictions on Canada and Mexico through June 22
On Tuesday, May 19, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced the U.S. would extend travel restrictions in place at the Canadian and Mexican borders another 30 days to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions, initially put in place in late March in coordination with both countries, closed the borders to nonessential travel.…
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Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) extends Alaska travel restrictions
On Friday, May 15, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) extended the state’s restrictions on out-of-state visitors and residents returning to Alaska through June 2. The Health Mandate requires all people entering Alaska to complete a travel declaration form and self-quarantine for 14 days. Although the mandate does not apply to individuals working in industries that…
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Sen. Lamar Alexander to self-quarantine after staff member tests positive for coronavirus
On Sunday, May 10, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced he would self-quarantine for 14 days after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Instead of returning to D.C., Alexander will work remotely from Tennessee. He chairs the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Ballotpedia tracks politicians…
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to self-quarantine after staff member tests positive for coronavirus
On May, 11, 2020, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced that he and members of his office would self-quarantine after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 last week. All senior members of Pritzker’s staff have tested negative for the virus. Pritzker received a test Sunday, May 10, which also came back negative. Ballotpedia tracks…
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Pennsylvania extends stay-at-home order for parts of the state through June 4
Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced Thursday that he was extending Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order through June 4 for counties in the red phase of the state’s reopening plan. The order was passed on April 1 and was originally scheduled to expire on April 30. Wolf extended the statewide order through May 8 on April 20. Counties…