More States Enact Measures to Curtail Coronavirus Spread as COVID-19 Cases Surge

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Amid Continuing Political Divisions, More States Are Enacting Measures to Curtail the Spread of Coronavirus as COVID-19 Cases Surge Across the Country More states are enacting measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus as COVID-19 cases surge across the country this fall, even as Americans remain bitterly divided over how serious a threat the virus poses and how best to respond to it. Thirty-one states have imposed new restrictions since the beginning of November, KFF researchers find in a new Policy Watch post. The states span the ideological divide, with 13 led by GOP governors and 18 headed by Democrats. The new measures come as daily new coronavirus cases in the U.S. rise sharply to previously unseen levels, and as total infections since the start of the pandemic now top 11 million, with more than a quarter of a million people dead. Nearly 80,000 people are hospitalized nationally. And nearly all states and Washington D.C. meet criteria to be considered hotspots. State responses vary widely but tend to focus on a few key areas—face mask requirements, limits on large gatherings, and limits on restaurants and bars. Among the findings of a new KFF analysis: Thirty-eight states have imposed mask mandates including Iowa, North Dakota and Utah in just the past two weeks. Thirteen states, including several the epicenter of recent outbreaks such as Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, still do not mandate mask wearing in public. Seventeen states now limit indoor gatherings to no more than 10 people and six prohibit them altogether. Another eight states allow gatherings of up to 25 people. Twenty states either do not limit the size of gatherings or allow gatherings of up to 50 people. Seven states have recently closed restaurants to indoor or all in-person dining while 20 allow indoor dining but impose capacity limits. Moreover, 16 states have closed bars to indoor service, while 15 states continue to have no restrictions on restaurants and bars. Several states have adopted business “curfews,” closing restaurants and bars, and in some cases other businesses, at certain hours in hopes of curtailing exposure by limiting socializing, especially with alcohol. With the holiday season just ahead and public health experts warning that the virus could spread more widely as people spend more time indoors during the winter, the analysis notes that it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough, especially absent clear federal guidance. For more data and information, visit KFF’s tracker of state data and policy actions to address the coronavirus pandemic. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.
Contact: Chris Lee | (202) 654-1403 | clee@kff.org
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