coronavirus restrictions News

New Zealand Raises Fines for People and Companies that Break COVID-19 Rules

WELLINGTON – New Zealand on Friday [Sept. 17] announced higher fines of up to NZ$12,000 ($8,400) for individuals breaching coronavirus restrictions amid concerns that the current outbreak may spread beyond Auckland to other regions due to people breaking rules. “Our …

Kentucky Gov to Relax Virus-Related Capacity Limits on Businesses, Events

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday laid out the next phase for relaxing pandemic-related restrictions and said he hopes to lift any remaining capacity limits on gatherings this summer. “We’re very close to the end of this,” the Democratic governor …

As States Ease Mask Rules, Essential Workers Worry About Safety and Jobs

Leo Carney worries that bigger crowds and mask-less diners could endanger workers at the Biloxi, Mississippi, seafood restaurant where he manages the kitchen. Maribel Cornejo, who earns $9.85 an hour as a McDonald’s cook in Houston, can’t afford to get …

Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Bills Limiting Gov’s Authority on Pandemic Restrictions

In a stinging rebuke of the Democratic governor’s response to COVID-19, Republican lawmakers on Saturday gave final passage to bills limiting his emergency powers to impose restrictions meant to contain the coronavirus. After months of fuming from the sidelines as …

Louisiana Gov. Edwards Rejects Legislation Giving Lawmakers More Emergency Power

Gov. John Bel Edwards has vetoed the centerpiece bill of Louisiana’s just-ended special session, a measure seeking to give lawmakers more authority in a governor’s emergency decisions, including the ability to jettison individual coronavirus restrictions. The Democratic governor’s decision was …

Louisiana Governor Extends Mask Rule, Virus Restrictions to Aug. 7

Gov. John Bel Edwards has said that he’ll keep Louisiana’s mask mandate and business restrictions in place for at least two more weeks, as the number of coronavirus patients at hospitals surges in all regions of the state. The Democratic …

Mississippi Church Suing Over Virus Restrictions Burns Down; Arson Suspected

A church in Mississippi was destroyed by a suspected arson fire, about a month after its pastor filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Holly Springs on gathering restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak. First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs, Mississippi, …

Governor Vows ‘Consequences’ if Arkansas Theater Proceeds with Concert

An Arkansas theater will face consequences that could be enforced by the police if it proceeds with its plan to defy the state’s coronavirus restrictions by holding what could be the country’s first major concert this far into the pandemic, …

Louisiana Opening Up with Fewer Virus-Related Restrictions

Saying Louisiana has made significant strides in combating the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that he will begin loosening restrictions on churches, restaurants, salons and gyms, moving the state away from a “stay-at-home” position he enacted in late …