Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on January 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the new coronavirus changed the lives of most Americans. Throughout March and April, states issued home orders, closed schools, restricted travel and changed election dates. Many of these policies remain in effect today.
Here are the policy changes that took place from April 6 to 10, 2020. This list is not comprehensive.
Monday, April 6, 2020:
- Requests to stay at home:
- The “Stay Home Missouri” order came into effect in Missouri. He directed individuals in the state to stay at home unless they performed essential activities and placed restrictions on non-essential businesses. Governor Mike Parson (R) and director of the Department of Health and Senior Services Randall Williams issued the order on April 3, and it was originally set to expire on April 24, 2020.
- School closings:
- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) closed schools by the end of the academic year. Prior to that request, state schools were closed until April 17.
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) extended the school’s statewide closure from April 15 to April 29.
- Electoral changes:
- The Wisconsin state supreme court voted 4-2 to block an executive order issued earlier in the day by Governor Tony Evers (D) postponing the vote in person in the spring elections scheduled for April 7, 2020 through June 9 . , the face-to-face vote was scheduled for April 7.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) issued an order authorizing convention-nominated political parties to postpone these conventions or conduct them remotely.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
- Requests to stay at home:
- The Executive Order 2020-21 came into effect in South Carolina. The order mandated that individuals in South Carolina stay at home, except for essential activities and non-essential business closed in the state. Governor Henry McMaster (R) issued the order on April 6. South Carolina was the last state to implement a home stay order. In total, 43 states issued home stay orders.
- School closings:
- Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) recommended that state schools remain closed for the rest of the academic year.
- Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D) extended the school’s statewide closure from April 10 to April 24.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
- Travel restrictions:
- Utah Governor Gary Herbert (R) issued an order requiring all visitors over 18 who enter Utah via airports or highways to complete a three-hour travel declaration. He said drivers entering Utah will receive a text message with a link to the form. Airport travelers would receive a card from an airport employee with instructions to complete an online form. The form required travelers to answer a series of questions related to COVID-19 symptoms and travel history.
- School closings:
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) closed schools by the end of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools were closed until April 28.
- Electoral changes:
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has announced that he will issue an executive order suspending existing eligibility criteria for absentee voting, allowing all voters to vote by mail in the June 23, 2020 election.
- Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) postponed the state primaries, originally scheduled for June 9, 2020, to June 23.
- Federal government responses:
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced a $ 500 million contract with General Motors to produce 30,000 fans under the Defense Production Act.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
- Travel restrictions:
- Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) ordered all people traveling to Arizona from areas of the country with widespread cases of COVID-19 to be quarantined for 14 days. The application specifically mentioned Connecticut, New York and New Jersey as areas with significant community expansion.
- School closings:
- Alaskan Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) has closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools were closed until May 1.
- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Before the announcement, schools had been closed indefinitely from 16 March.
- Electoral changes:
- Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) has postponed Georgia’s state and presidential primaries to June 9, 2020, and the second round of primaries to August 11. The state had already postponed its presidential primaries to May 19, the original date for its state primaries.
Friday, April 10, 2020
- Electoral changes:
- Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) sanctioned B23-0733 as law, ordering district election officials to send absentee ballots to all registered voters prior to the June 2, 2020 primary elections.
- New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner (D) and Attorney General Gordon MacDonald (R) released a memo to election officials informing them that any voter in the general elections of September 8, 2020 or November 3, 2020 could request a missing vote based on concerns related to COVID-19.
- Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) issued Executive Order No. 39 FY 19/20, postponing the state primary elections, originally scheduled for June 9 to July 14.
- Federal government responses:
- Trump announced that he was forming a new council to discuss the process of reopening the U.S. economy. Trump referred to the group as the Opening Council of Our Country and said the members would be announced on April 14.
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