To monitor the response of state and local governments to the coronavirus, we created a COVID-19 State and Local Policy Dashboard that provides a quick and easy reference to updates and information issued by state and key local agencies and policymakers (updated daily). Toggle between the tabs in the top lefthand corner of the screen. The tabs are organized as follows:
- Tab 1: Main state-level information and activity, such as links to health department COVID-19 websites, key contacts, state of emergency declarations, executive orders, changes to legislative sessions, travel restrictions, and official Twitter accounts.
- Tab 2: Additional state-level activity, such as limits on mass gatherings, school closures, mandatory curfews, restaurant and retail closures, and more.
- Tab 3: Main local-level information and activity, in the same format as Tab 1. We are working to add the top 100 local jurisdictions by population by the end of this week.
- Tab 4: Additional local-level activity, in a similar format as Tab 2.
Click here to view the Dashboard (do not click the screenshot).
This information will be updated daily by our policy team. You can access this new resource by clicking here or visiting http://bit.ly/multistate_covid_tracker.
Stay-at-Home Orders: What is Considered Essential Business?
Our latest tool collects “stay-at-home” orders and definitions of “essential businesses” from states and large localities. This is “live” and will be updated as soon as new orders are issued and reviewed by the MultiState team. Click here to access this tool, or visit https://bit.ly/stay_home_orders.
Travel Restrictions Issued by States
Travel restrictions typically require anyone who enters into the state to self-quarantine for 14-days. Some are limited to those entering from certain locations, while others are more broad and require self-quarantine generally. The map below summarizes these restrictions and will be updated daily.
State Legislation on COVID-19
State legislatures have also begun introducing and advancing legislation addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. In general, this legislation falls into the following categories:
- State of emergency declarations,
- Special authorities granted to Governor,
- Prevention of spread and containment,
- Response planning,
- Practices for cleaning and disinfecting,
- Leave policies,
- Suspension of legislative sessions and allowing for longer recesses,
- School closures, and
- Funding and financial preparedness.
This map will be updated daily, and we’ll be adding a map breaking down the types of issues each state is addressing soon.
Impact on State Legislative Sessions
In addition to the impact on schools, businesses, and daily life, the COVID-19 outbreak is also impacting the operation of state legislatures. Many state legislatures have either postponed activity or adjourned early, and those that have remained in session have restricted public access to capitol buildings and legislative office buildings.
Our State Legislative Sessions chart is being updated daily to include any changes to legislative schedules that result from the COVID-19 outbreak (click here to see the chart). We have also distilled these calendar updates into a map, shown below. Our Sessions chart and this map will also be updated daily.
Twitter Lists of State Officials & Agencies
To keep track of what state officials and agencies are saying about COVID-10 and to follow updates from their official accounts, we are creating Twitter Lists so that you can follow are the states in one place.
- Click here to access the 2020 Governors list and subscribe.
- Click here to access the state health departments list and subscribe.
- Click. here to access the local health departments list and subscribe.
Additional Resources
- Federal Response. Kelley Drye & Warren’s COVID-19 Response Resource Center provides developments at the federal level. Click here to access the Resource Center.
- Resources for Business. Many state chambers of commerce have created pages dedicated to COVID-19 impact and response, including resources for in-state businesses. The Council of State Chambers (COSC) has collected these links in a single page on the COSC website. Click here to access the collection.
- School Closure Tracker. Education Week created an interactive map tool to track school closures across the country. Click here for the interactive map.