Georgia

As of June 1st

COVID-19 Status Report – Georgia Department of Public Health (Updated 6/1/2020, 1:00 p.m.)

  • Confirmed COVID-19 Cases: 47,618
  • Hospitalizations: 8,127
  • Total Tests: 562,815
  • ICU Admissions: 1,800
  • Deaths: 2,074

As of May 29th

The Governor of the State of Georgia has signed an Executive Order that renews the Public Health State of Emergency that was set to expire on June, 12, 2020, so that it shall now terminate on July 12, 2020 at 11.59pm unless renewed by the Governor.

The Governor of the State of Georgia has signed an Executive Order that provides ongoing direction for reviving a healthy Georgia in response to COVID-19, including detailed orders for retailers, restaurant and dining services, general industry, and education facilities.

Kansas

As of May 27th

Governor Kelly has reissued several Executive Orders following her new emergency declaration. Those EOs can be found by clicking here.

New York

As of May 30th

The Governor of the State of New York has published an executive order authorizing business owners and building operators to deny entry to individuals who do not wear masks or face-coverings.

North Carolina

As of June 1st

  • Laboratory confirmed Coronavirus cases: 28,589
  • Coronavirus deaths: 929
  • Currently hospitalized: 649
  • Completed tests: 416,289
  • Number recovered: 14,954
  • NC Counties affected: 99/100
  • Realtime COVID-19 Data for NC

At least 27,793 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 929 have died as of Saturday afternoon, according to state and county health departments. The NC Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday reported an additional 1,185 cases of the virus, the largest single-day increase since the pandemic first struck the state.

Lawmakers Vote to Reopen Bars Despite Governor’s Order (WRAL) State lawmakers voted Thursday to allow bars to reopen in outdoor spaces, overriding Governor Cooper’s executive order that has closed them since March. The legislation would allow bars to serve patrons in outdoor spaces, permanent or temporary, at 50 percent of the capacity of their indoor area, with social distancing guidelines. House Bill 536 would also allow restaurants to set up temporary outdoor spaces to serve customers in the same way. Restaurants are currently limited to 50 percent of their capacity, and the outdoor seating could bring them up to 100 percent, or close to it. Governor Cooper said he would veto the bill.

NC Bar Owners Want to See Science Behind Decision to Keep Them Closed

Gym Owners File Lawsuit Against Governor Cooper (Raleigh News & Observer) A group of gym owners are suing Governor Cooper for not allowing them to reopen their businesses under Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan. The state has not specified whether gyms can reopen in Phase Three or earlier. Phase Three will lessen restrictions even further and allow most businesses to open. Phase Two is expected to last through at least June 26. Some gym owners said they don’t think it was fair that businesses such as ABC stores and restaurants were able to be open, but not gyms. 

Governor Extends Utility Cut-off Moratorium, Creates One for Evictions (WLOS) Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 142 on May 30, effective immediately, to extend the prohibition of utility shut-offs and implement a moratorium on evictions.

Executive Order 142, Extending Prohibition on Evictions and Utility Shut-Offs, May 30

Utilities Panel Refuses to Make Duke Energy Raise Fees for NC Factories During Pandemic (Charlotte Observer) North Carolina’s Utilities Commission has denied a request that it order Duke Energy to temporarily waive fixed monthly charges affecting commercial and industrial customers during the coronavirus pandemic. The Carolina Utility Customers Association, a manufacturers’ trade group, had sought to waive fees by both of Duke’s N.C. utilities and by Dominion Energy North Carolina, which serves the state’s northeastern corner.

NC Unemployment Chief Replaced (Durham Herald Sun) There’s a new boss at North Carolina’s unemployment office. Governor Cooper didn’t say why the old boss, Lockhart Taylor, moved to a different job in state government “with separate duties and responsibilities.” But the move comes after numerous complaints about long waits that newly unemployed people having been facing — waits to get through to the office on the phone, or to get benefits at all.

Media Coalition Sues Cooper, Cabinet Agencies for COVID-19 Records (Raleigh News & Observer) A coalition of more than two dozen media outlets filed a lawsuit seeking the release of a list of records related to COVID-19 that the state had, so far, refused to provide. The lawsuit names as defendants Gov. Roy Cooper and two of his Cabinet secretaries, Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Erik Hooks, secretary of the Department of Public Safety. The complaint lists a total of 26 outstanding records requests — nine to DPS and 17 to DHHS — submitted by media outlets for records that could be helpful in reporting on COVID-19. All but one of the requests were submitted since the pandemic began.

RNC Sets Deadline for Response on NC Convention (AP) The Republican National Committee says it wants to hear from Governor Roy Cooper by June 3 on whether the state can fully accommodate the party’s national convention in August this summer. The letter sent Saturday by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to Cooper comes a day after Cooper talked by phone with President Trump about the issue. The two disagreed about the viability of a full-fledged convention.

NC House Passes Funding, Rules to Prepare for Spike in Voting by Mail (Raleigh News & Observer) A bill making it easier for people to vote by mail in the 2020 elections passed with near-unanimous support Thursday in the N.C. House of Representatives. State officials have told lawmakers that normally, around 4% or 5% of North Carolinians vote by mail. But because of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and public health concerns, they expect that it could grow to as high as 40% this year.

NC Unemployment Triples in April to 12.2%, Worse to Come in May (Winston Salem Journal) North Carolina’s unemployment rate nearly tripled from 4.3% in March to 12.2% in April, a stark reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the state’s economy. By comparison, the state unemployment rate reached a 33-year peak of 10.9% in 2010 as the state and national economies began their slow recoveries from the Great Recession. Economists project the May jobless rate will be significantly higher since the US Labor Department collects employment data during the week that contains the 12th of the month.

Non-Coronavirus News

Protesters, Police Clash at Raleigh Protest of Floyd’s Death; Buildings Damaged, Looted (Raleigh News & Observer) The streets of Downtown Raleigh were filled with protesters and police in riot gear Saturday evening. The event started peacefully, with protesters singing and chanting throughout downtown, but within an hour after the crowd began marching, police released tear gas and pepper spray. Protesters threw fireworks, rocks and water bottles at police and vandalized several downtown businesses. At least one protester was arrested.

GOP Campaigns Pick Up Steam Ahead of NC-11 Second Primary (The Mountaineer) For an election that early on garnered attention from national media and top-tier politicians, the second primary to see which Republican will advance to the general election for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district has fallen by the wayside. Overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic the last few months, early voting for the contest is set to start in just a couple of weeks, and the candidates, Lynda Bennett of Haywood County and Madison Cawthorn of Henderson County, are planning their final push.

NC Lawmaker Accuses Multiple Senators of Abusive Behavior (WRAL) A North Carolina state senator accused multiple colleagues Thursday of abusive behavior. Sen. Erica Smith (D-Northampton), who ran this year for the US Senate, said three fellow Democrats made disparaging or sexual comments and that one of them – Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) – was seconds away from physically assaulting her last year before colleagues stepped in.

Oregon

As of May 29th

State:

  • After a nail-biting 48 hours of ballot counting, Sen. Shemia Fagan emerged as the democratic nominee for Oregon Secretary of State, pulling ahead of her Senate colleague Mark Hass. Fagan will face Republican Sen. Kim Thatcher in November. Willamette Week did a behind-the-scenes look at the campaigns’ wait for a final count.
  • The Legislature continued their virtual May Legislatives Days, with the House Committee Meetings largely focusing on specific policy areas impacted by COVID-19. Senate Committees will take place from June 1-5.
  • A special meeting of the House Business & Labor Committee will meet this Saturday at 9:00AM to ask questions of Oregon Employment Department Leadership. The meeting is a follow up to a meeting earlier this week, where lawmakers didn’t have a chance to ask questions of department leadership. The committee will also accept public testimony on this topic through Monday, June 1 @ 5PM. Meeting info can be found here.
  • Murmurs of potential special session continue to be floated, with rumors ranging from as early as the week of June 22, to late summer.

Local: 

  • Earlier this week, Multnomah County released an update on reopening, announcing a goal to submit their plan on June 5 for a targeted June 12 Phase 1 reopening. While the county has met several requirements, they still need more contract tracing & testing sites. 
  • Portland City Council held a work session on CARES Act funding prioritization for approximately $74 million in resources. During the work session, funding opportunities from bureaus, a decision-making process, and proposed high-level priorities were presented by the Office of Management and Finance. An Equity Toolkit was created to serve as a guide for city bureaus in the recovery and relief efforts. There was no Council consensus on high-level priorities for funding by the end of the work session.
    • Over the next week or two Council offices will try to find agreement on shared high-level priorities for city CARES Act funds. The desired timeline is to disburse CARES Act funds by mid-July, which means City Council would approve funding decisions at a City Council meeting mid-June (TBD).

COVID-19 Update: 

  • Oregon now has 4,131 confirmed cases of COVID-19; There have been 151 deaths. 

At-a-Glance: Oregon News Related to COVID-19 

Resources 

Nonprofits & Small Businesses 

CARES Act 

General Resources 

Washington

As of May 30th

The Governor of the State of Washington has published a proclamation applicable to essential workers and workplaces to prohibit any agricultural employer from continuing to operate beyond June 3, 2020, unless the employer complies with all provisions of the Agriculture COVID-19 Requirements-– Provisions for All Worksites and Work-Related Functions.

Virginia

As of May 28th

As of Thursday, May 28:

Total cases: 41,401

Hospitalizations: 4,442

Deaths: 1,338

The latest:

  • Masks will be required for anyone who is indoors in public, effective May 29.
  • Northern Virginia, City of Richmond and the Eastern Shore’s Accomack County will join the rest of the state in Phase 1 of the re-opening
  • All beaches in Virginia will be permitted to open for recreational activities on May 29.

All people entering indoor businesses and other indoor public spaces across Virginia will be required to wear a covering over their nose and mouth, starting on May 29, as part of Gov. Ralph Northam’s effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The mandate will not be enforced through the criminal justice system, although Northam left open the possibility that unruly or disorderly patrons who refuse to wear a mask could potentially face other charges related to their conduct in public.

Instead, Northam urged Virginians take the responsibility upon themselves to wear a face covering in public to protect themselves and others, and suggested business owners ask patrons without a mask to return when they have one, or for the business owner to offer to provide one.

The governor also will bring Northern Virginia localities, the City of Richmond and Accomack County into Phase 1 of the state’s reopening. Other localities across the commonwealth entered Phase 1 on May 15. Northam indicated the entire commonwealth would remain in Phase 1 until at least June 5 in order to collect more public health data.

Under Phase 1 guidelines, non-essential retail businesses and churches are permitted to reopen at 50 percent of indoor capacity. Personal grooming businesses such as salons and barbershops are able to serve customers by appointment only, and so long as staff and customers wear face masks, the governor said.

Teleworking and practicing social distancing remain recommended practices. Restaurants are permitted to serve customers at half the outdoor seating capacity; indoor dining remains prohibited.

After Virginia Beach successfully implemented a restricted plan for reopening its Oceanfront resort area for Memorial Day weekend, Northam said the rest of Virginia’s beaches may open for recreational activities on May 29, too, so long as there are no large gatherings, group sports, alcohol or tents on the beach.

NASCAR will be allowed to hold its June 10 race at Martinsville Speedway but without spectators, Northam said.

Entertainment and amusement venues, as well as overnight summer camps, remain closed. Public gatherings of more than 10 people will continue to be banned. Under Phase 2, limitations will be further eased and the cap on public gatherings will be raised to no more than 50 people.

While Virginia DMV offices have reopened on a limited basis, individuals who have a driver’s license or identification card that expires before July 31 have until August 31 to renew, Northam said.

The state’s stay-at-home order, in effect until June 10, has been amended to inform Virginians that they are safer at home. Older Virginians and others at higher risk of developing complications associated with infection are encouraged to remain home.

Municipal elections scheduled for May 5 were rescheduled to May 19, and congressional primaries from June 9 to June 23. Public schools are closed for the rest of the academic year, and officials are having discussions about fall classes. Northam said he will have an announcement in early June regarding when and how youth sports can safely resume.

Initial unemployment claims have begun to recede but remain historically high. According to the Virginia Employment Commission, the 10 weeks ending May 23 yielded more than 100,000 claims greater than the number of claims filed during the Great Recession of December 2007 to June 2009.

Wisconsin

As of June 1st

Updated numbers released over the weekend:

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Hospital Association released updated numbers over the weekend:

  • 414 Current Hospital Admissions (133 patients in ICU)
    • The total number of hospital admissions reported decreased by 9 over the weekend (-9).
      • Hospital admissions went from 423 on Friday to 409 on Saturday (-14) to 414 on Sunday (+5).
    • The total number of ICU patients reported decreased by 11 over the weekend (-11).
      • The number of ICU patients was 144 on Friday and Saturday and then decreased by 11 on Sunday to 133 (-11).
  • Cumulatively there have been 268,506 COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin;
    • 18,403 positive tests and 250,103 negative tests in Wisconsin (6.8% positive rate)
  • On Saturday there were 523 positive tests reported on 9,843 tests (5.3% positive rate)
  • On Sunday there were 173 positive tests reported on 7,368 tests (2.3% positive rate)
  • Deaths from COVID-19 now total 592 in Wisconsin (+24 for the weekend).
    • There were 20 deaths reported on Saturday
    • There were 4 deaths reported on Sunday
  • 11,646 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are listed as having recovered (63%), 6,164 cases are still considered active (33%) and 592 patients have died (3%). (last updated by DHS on 5/31)

Sources: 

Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) COVID-19 Situational Awareness Update site
DHS COVID-19: County Data; https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/county.htm

Recap of Weekend News Shows

UpFront; Adrienne Pedersen interviews DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm

UpFront host Adrienne Pedersen interviewed Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm about the status of Wisconsin’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of note in the interview:

  • Sec. Palm was asked about the spike in positive test results and she responded that there are a number of things that may be contributing to that; one is the end of the Safer-At-Home order and people having more contacts with individuals outside of their family units and the other is the increased testing that the state is doing.
  • When asked if the increase can be connected to the lifting of the Safer-At-Home order, Sec. Palm said, “I think it is not easy to make a direct connection between the lifting of Safer-At-Home, but we know this virus is very contagious and our ability and the work we did as a state to flatten the curve was as a result of people limiting their contact with other people. It is not surprising, as the state opens up more, that we will see increases of infections as more people contact with each other.”

 Link to the interview: https://www.wisn.com/article/covid-cases-climbing-in-wisconsin/32719879

Wisconsin Public Television: Here & Now interview with Governor Evers

Here & Now anchor Frederica Freyberg interviewed Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in their weekly segment with the Governor on the status of Wisconsin’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of note in the interview:

  • When asked about the spike in the numbers this week, the Governor noted that increase in numbers was concerning, but also noted that the state is also testing more and that Wisconsinites need to remain vigilant about keeping social distance and practicing good hygiene.
  • The Governor noted his disappointment in the photos he sees of people that are not wearing masks or practicing social distancing.

Link to interview: https://video.pbswisconsin.org/video/governor-tony-evers-talks-pandemic-george-floyd-pzampq/

Capital City Sunday: Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) on delayed state action on unemployment insurance

Capital City Sunday’s Emilee Fannon interviewed Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairman regarding the Legislature’s concerns over the Department of Workforce Development’s processing of unemployment insurance claims during this pandemic.

Of note in the interview:

  • Rep. Nygren said that there are 675,000 Wisconsinites who have filed UI claims that have not been processed yet.
  • When asked about delays caused by restrictions placed on DWD by the Walker Administration, Rep. Nygren said that the Evers Administration asked for one change in the COVID-19 Relief bill for DWD, the elimination of the 1-week wait change, which Rep. Nygren said the Republicans put in the bill.

Link to the interview: https://wkow.com/2020/05/31/capital-city-sunday-unemployment-crisis-social-media-regulations-county-restricitons/

Updated Charts

Daily Numbers:

Cumulative Numbers:

For more information, sign up for free access to Dentons’ COVID-19 Regulation Tracker powered by Libryo. For access to the COVID-19 portal click here.

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David Quam

About David Quam

As a member of Dentons’ Public Policy practice, David co-leads Dentons 50, the firm’s 50-state advocacy network that provides clients facing complex, multi-state policy matters with on-the-ground government relations capabilities in every state capitol.

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Crawford G. Schneider

Crawford G. Schneider

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