Author: Samuel Wonacott
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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…
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Maryland closes schools to in-person instruction for the remainder of the year
On Wednesday, Maryland Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that schools in Maryland would be closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the academic year. Online and distance learning will continue for students, however. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) first ordered schools closed on March 12. Maryland has a divided government. The Republican Party holds…
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Supreme Court of Florida delays jury trials through July 2
On May 4, 2020, Charles Canady, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, issued a new emergency order extending the suspension of jury trials through July 2. The order also increases the number of proceedings that will be conducted remotely. The list includes non-jury trials, hearings in juvenile delinquency cases, and pretrial conferences. For…
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New Jersey closes schools to in-person instruction for remainder of academic year
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Monday that schools would be closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. The order applies to both public and private schools. Private schools with longer school years must remain closed through June 30. Forty-six states have closed schools to in-person instruction for the remainder…