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Govs On Deck – June 2, 2020

Govs on Deck

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It’s Tuesday, for those of you keeping track. Welcome to today’s edition of “Govs on Deck.” We’re still here and we’re still daily. We hope you are all still safe and healthy – across everything that is happening.
Questions or suggestions? Send me a note at amestoy@dga.net. You can find us all on Twitter too – @A_Tall_Turner, @CEAmestoy, @JerusalemDemsas, and @andersonkayjay.
We want this to be helpful, so let me know what other info/what other formats you’d like to see for these updates.
Dem Govs Get It Done:
NOTE: This is an overview of recent actions, not a comprehensive roundup of everything our incredible governors are doing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Want more examples? Send me an email and I can help you track down answers.
Stay at home orders:

  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS signed an executive order updating the state’s safer at home order. Previously, high-risk Coloradans, those above 65 or with underlying health conditions, were required to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Under this order, those individuals are now encouraged to also enjoy Colorado’s outdoor spaces at a safe social distance, in addition to staying at home as much as possible. 
  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order rescinding the state’s safer at home order. 

Reopening efforts:

  • LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel EDWARDS announced that Louisiana is ready to move to Phase 2 of the White House’s reopening strategy on June 5. In Phase 2, churches, places of worship and many more businesses will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity with social distancing, masks for public-facing employees and increased sanitation.
  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order moving the entire state into Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.
  • NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil MURPHY announced that New Jersey will enter Stage Two of the state’s reopening plan on June 15th. Stage Two will include outdoor dining for restaurants and indoor, non-essential retail as of June 15th. Beginning on June 22nd, barber shops and salons will be able to reopen. In the period to follow, New Jersey will work toward the gradual opening of personal care, gyms, and health clubs, at reduced capacities as the stage progresses. All of these activities will be allowed pursuant to strict health and safety guidelines that will be issued in the coming days.
  • NEW YORK Gov. Andrew CUOMO announced Western New York is expected to enter Phase 2 of reopening today and the Capital Region is expected to enter Phase 2 of reopening on June 3 following a review of regional data by global public health experts.

Public gatherings: 

  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order allowing groups of 100 or less to gather outdoors with social distancing  under Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.  

Elections:

  • PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom WOLF signed an executive order extending the deadline for county election offices in Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties to receive absentee or mail-in ballots by mail to 5 p.m. June 9th. The ballot must be postmarked no later than today. The deadline to hand deliver absentee or mail-in ballots remains 8 p.m tonight. 

Business guidance:

  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order allowing retailers to reopen on June 4th and restaurants to reopen on June 8th under Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.  

Schools/students:

  • WASHINGTON Gov. Jay INSLEE issued higher education and workforce training requirements in Phase 1 and Phase 2. These guidelines do not apply generally to higher education institutions; they apply only to workforce training programs that require in-classroom/lab practicums only.

Health care:

  • NEVADA’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health, in partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, have launched Nevada HealthCARES Warmline to support health care workers statewide. The toll-free phone line will serve as a confidential mental health resource for health care professionals to seek support before they have reached a crisis point 

Testing and tracing:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT signed an executive order mandating weekly COVID-19 testing for staff of private and municipal nursing homes, residential communities and assisted living agencies.
  • NEVADA Gov. Steve SISOLAK announced the approval of a comprehensive community-based testing, laboratory analysis, and contact tracing plan to support local, statewide, and tribal efforts to reopen and keep open the Nevada economy. 

PPE and medical supplies:

  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS and MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHIMTER are scheduled to testify remotely before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee along with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. WHITMER is expected to testify about the confusion over coordinating allocation of PPE in the early days of the pandemic. 

Worker support:

  • CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned LAMONT signed an executive order allowing the Connecticut Department of Labor to consider, when determining a worker’s eligibility for unemployment benefits, whether COVID-19 means returning to work would pose an unreasonable risk to the health of a member of that worker’s household. 
  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHIMTER signed an executive order providing additional requirements and procedures to keep agricultural workers and the food supply safe from the effects of COVID-19. The order requires owners and operators of employer-provided migrant housing licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provide residents with the same safeguards businesses are required to provide workers under Executive Order 2020-97. This includes creating a COVID-19 response plan, providing Personal Protective Equipment and following social distancing measures.  

Family support:

  • CONNECTICUT’s Department of Social Services announced that recipients of SNAP benefits will be able to purchase food online from participating retailers in Connecticut beginning Tuesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 3. SNAP enrollees will be able to use their electronic benefit transfer card to purchase eligible food items online for delivery or curbside pickup.

Child care / summer camps:

  • MICHIGAN Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order allowing day camps for children to open under Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.  

Task forces:

  • DELAWARE Gov. John CARNEY signed an executive order creating a Pandemic Resurgence Advisory Committee (PRAC) to plan for a potentially dangerous resurgence of COVID-19 in fall 2020.

Inter-state / intra-state travel:

  • HAWAII Gov. David IGE announced that the state will be lifting the 14-day quarantine requirement for inter-island travelers, effective June 16. 

Other efforts:

  • CONNECTICUT’s Department of Housing announced that it has gained approval from the U.S. HUD regarding the federal dollars the state agency is receiving from the CARES Act that will be utilized for housing issues. DOH was awarded $8.1 million in CDBG-CV funding and $8.1 million in ESG-CV funding. Eligible activities under CDBG-CV include – but are not limited to – making interim improvements on private properties to enable an individual patient to remain quarantined on a temporary basis; providing test diagnosis or services at a fixed or mobile location and providing equipment necessary to carry out the public service. ESG-CV eligible activities include – but are not limited to – the expansion of rapid rehousing, expansion of shelter operations, establishing an eviction prevention program, and utilizing monies for telehealth. 

Stay safe everyone and wash your hands!