As states and local jurisdictions enact partial or full shutdowns of business, it is critical for PESA to ensure that all elements of our sector and the critical supply chain remain open and permitted to operate throughout the crisis. Below, please find a detailed list of the current orders in the states and jurisdictions where many of our members operate.
TEXAS
According to an evaluation by MultiState based on 11 different factors that measure a state’s “openness beyond standard social distancing guidelines,” Texas currently has a score of 52 out of 100. A score of 100 would mean the state is fully open and a zero would indicate the state is in full lockdown.
Last week, Texas became the first state in the U.S. to reach a million COVID-19 cases.
On Friday, a state appeals court halted a temporary shutdown of non-essential businesses in El Paso County, where cases have skyrocketed, and mobile morgues have been rushed in to handle the casualties.
Gov. Greg Abbot has stopped relying on the positivity rate after massive backlog skewed the state’s rate for weeks this summer. Health officials say they have since fixed the error. He has not had a press conference in two months.
Texas has had more than 1.1 million cases of the virus.
Texas Business Resources During COVID-19
OKLAHOMA
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Oklahoma currently has a score of 93 out of 100, indicating that the state is opening beyond standard social distancing guidelines.
Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday announced new restaurant restrictions and a mask requirement for state employees as COVID cases spike at an alarming rate in Oklahoma.
The new restrictions are the first major statewide coronavirus mandates in months, after the latest COVID-19 numbers threaten to overwhelm hospitals. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports an average of more than 2,600 new cases per day. A week ago, that average was 1,100.
Starting Thursday, bars and restaurants must close by 11 p.m. and must spread out tables by six feet or put barriers between tables and bar seats. State employees under the executive office must wear masks to work unless they’re by themselves – a restriction that applies to about 33,000 state workers.
Oklahoma has had more than 158,000 cases of the virus.
OKLAHOMA CITY COVID-19 RESOURCES
CITY OF TULSA COVID-19 RESOURCE CENTER
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE COVID-19 RESOURCES
OKLAHOMA WORKS COVID-19 RESOURCES
NEW MEXICO
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, New Mexico currently has a score of 18 out of 100.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced last week that the state will be entering a two-week shutdown to limit the spread of COVID-19. Starting Monday, Nov. 16, dine-in restaurants, gyms, salons and other “non-essential” businesses will have to close their doors. The new rules will be in effect until Nov. 30. She said after the two-week shutdown ends, the state will implement restrictions on a county-by-county basis.
On Thursday, state health officials announced a record 1,753 new cases of the coronavirus. One in six New Mexican’s have tested positive over the past week.
New Mexico has had more than 67,000 cases of the virus.
LEA COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT COVID-19 RESOURCES
CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE COVID-19 BUSINESS GUIDE
LOUISIANA
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Louisiana currently has a score of 61 out of 100.
Last week, as state judge ruled that Gov. John Bel Edwards has the authority to keep COVID-19 restrictions like the state-wide mask mandate in place despite a petition from House Republicans demanding he overturn his order.
Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health reported 3,493 cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Nov. 13. Edwards said it’s the highest number of cases the state has reported in one day of the pandemic. The positive rate for COVID tests now hovers around six percent.
Edwards said the 692 hospitalizations reported on Friday were the highest since Sept. 11, negating gains in hospital capacity over the past two months.
Louisiana has had more than 207,000 cases of the virus.
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
NEW ORLEANS OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
LOUISIANA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
COLORADO
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Colorado currently has a score of 56 out of 100.
This week, several counties, including Denver, will move to stricter COVID-19 restrictions for offices, dining and gyms. These counties will be in a “red” level, meaning “severe risk.” An additional purple level has been added as “extreme risk.”
Colorado has had more than 172,000 cases of the virus.
COLORADO DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WELD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DENVER OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COLORADO COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
PENNSYLVANIA
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Pennsylvania currently has a score of 74 out of 100.
Pennsylvania is enacting new measures to address a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Starting Friday, anyone who enters Pennsylvania must be tested by at least 72 hours before arrival. If they cannot or do not get a test, they must quarantine for 14 days. The order does not apply to people who commute to neighboring states for work or healthcare, officials said, and will largely be self-enforced.
Masks are required outside where it isn’t possible to maintain at least a six-foot distance from others, according to the order, and inside where people from multiple households are gathering, even if they can maintain social distance.
The state is reporting more than 5,000 new infections per day, up more than 115% in just two weeks. Hospitalizations and the positive test percentage are up sharply. Deaths are also on the rise.
Pennsylvania has had more than 281,000 cases of the virus.
PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PITTSBURGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PENNSYLVANIA COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES
OHIO
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Ohio currently has a score of 82 out of 100.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced a curfew that will go into effect Thursday across Ohio. The curfew will begin nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will last 21 days. DeWine said he was considering new restrictions for bars, restaurants and gyms, but is hopeful that the curfew will help more than closures. The curfew will be evaluated after the 21 days, and it is DeWine’s latest attempt to combat the spread of COVID-19. A new mask mandate went into effect Monday, and DeWine recently reissued an older order limiting gatherings to groups of 10.
The number of new cases has been above 5,500 every day since Nov. 10, and DeWine said that even if numbers level off, the infection rate is dangerously high and requires actions such as the 21-day curfew.
Ohio has had more than 312,000 cases of the virus.
PORTAGE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WYOMING
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Wyoming currently has a score of 85 out of 100.
Eight counties in Wyoming had pending requests to enact local mask orders, the Wyoming Department of Health confirmed Monday. The new requests come after 21 county health officials sent a letter to Gov. Mark Gordon calling for a statewide mask mandate.
Wyoming is one of the few states that has resisted ordering residents to wear masks in public, and experts say the consequences are obvious. In just one month, the number of Wyoming residents testing positive jumped a staggering 1,000%, from just 120 cases on Oct. 10 to 1,232 cases on Nov. 10.
Hospitals are rapidly filling. Wyoming has only about 125 ICU beds statewide and about half of them are in use.
Wyoming has had more than 24,000 cases of the virus.
WYOMING OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
CITY OF CHEYENNE COVID-19 UPDATES
CASPER/NATRONA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
UTAH
According to MultiState’s 11-factor analysis calculating the state’s openness rate, Utah currently has a score of 86 out of 100.
Gov. Gary Herbert announced a new statewide mask mandate and additional measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Under the mask requirement, all Utah residents must wear masks in public and when within six feet of anyone they don’t live with.
Under the mandate, businesses must require employees to wear masks and promote mask-wearing by patrons, as well as post signage accordingly. Business that do not comply are subject to fines.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is not at 3,057, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 24.4%
Utah has had more than 159,000 cases of the virus.
If you have questions or need help working with any state or local authorities, please contact Vice President Government Affairs Tim Tarpley.
