Arguments in the debate over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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Debate over responses to coronavirus pandemic

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Topics
Elections • Protests • Religious service restrictions • School closures • State lockdowns • Testing

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Arguments by topic
Testing • Mask requirements • School closures • Travel restrictions • Lockdown/stay-at-home orders • Expansion of absentee/mail-in voting • Religious service restrictions

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Debate by state
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Related coronavirus coverage
Changes to elections • Federal responses • State responses

State and local government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have varied widely. Those responses have generated a similar variety of responses from pundits, policy makers, lawmakers, and more. This article highlights the arguments over government responses in several areas:

* Universal or mass testing
* Mask requirements
* School closures
* Travel restrictions
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders
* Expansion of absentee or mail-in voting
* Religious service restrictions

This article is a hub for our coverage of arguments within each area of debate. It includes links to policy-specific pages that provide an overview of the arguments within each topic. It also includes links to state-specific pages that dive into the debate that's happening in each state about a variety of policies.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.

For an overview of federal, state, and local responses around the country, click here.

## Contents

* 1 Topics and arguments
* 1.1 Testing
* 1.2 Mask requirements
* 1.3 School closures
* 1.4 Travel restrictions
* 1.5 Lockdown/stay-at-home orders
* 1.6 Expansion of absentee/mail-in voting
* 1.7 Religious service restrictions
* 2 General resources
* 3 See also
* 4 External links
* 5 Footnotes

## Topics and arguments[edit]

### Testing[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about universal or mass testing for COVID-19 before the economy can reopen are:

* If universal or mass testing for COVID-19 before the economy can reopen is necessary, why is it necessary?
* Universal testing is necessary
* Universal testing is effective
* Universal testing is possible

* If universal or mass testing for COVID-19 before the economy can reopen is not necessary, why not?
* Universal testing is not necessary
* Universal testing is not possible
* Universal testing would divert and waste resources
* Universal testing might be dangerous
* Massive testing is too expensive
* Universal testing results are unreliable
* Universal testing is too slow to protect public health

### Mask requirements[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about mask requirements during the coronavirus pandemic are:

* In favor of mask requirements
* Masks reduce airborne spread of coronavirus
* Mask requirements are good for the economy
* Mask laws are justified to promote public health
* Mask mandates should apply statewide
* Masks reduce the intensity of COVID-19 infection and sickness

* Against mask requirements
* Mask requirements are not necessary to stop the spread of coronavirus
* Mask requirements give a false sense of security
* Mask requirements restrict freedom
* Masks present other health risks
* Mask requirements have harmful social consequences
* Mask requirements are unenforceable

### School closures[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about school closures during the coronavirus pandemic are:

* In favor of school closures
* School closures are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus
* Evidence from past pandemics supports the efficacy of school closures
* Reopening Universities will increase COVID-19 spread
* Reopening schools puts people of color at higher risk
* Keep schools closed because COVID-19 outbreaks are inevitable

* Against school closures
* School closures are ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus
* School closures pose significant unintended consequences
* School closures and reopening plans have disparate economic effects
* School closures and distance learning exacerbate digital divide
* Reopen schools to protect the economy
* School-aged children have reduced COVID-19 risk

### Travel restrictions[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about travel restrictions are:

* In favor of travel restrictions
* Travel restrictions prevent the spread of the virus
* Travel restrictions promote the state's safety image
* Travel restrictions are constitutional
* Travel restrictions protect tourism workers

* Against travel restrictions
* Certain travel restrictions are unconstitutional
* Travel restrictions are unfair to tourism businesses
* Travel restrictions are difficult to enforce
* Travel restrictions are ineffective
* Travel restrictions damage local economies

### Lockdown/stay-at-home orders[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about lockdown/stay-at-home orders are:

* In favor of lockdown/stay-at-home orders
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are necessary
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are better for the economy long-term
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are legal
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are limited

* Against lockdown/stay-at-home orders
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are unnecessary
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are worse than the coronavirus pandemic itself
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are illegal
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are unpopular
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders are unenforceable
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders go too far
* Lockdown/stay-at-home orders create COVID-19 risks

### Expansion of absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about the expansion of absentee/mail-in voting are:

* In favor of absentee/mail-in voting expansion
* Absentee/mail-in voting reduces the spread of COVID-19
* Absentee/mail-in voting expansion is necessary to facilitate access to voting
* Expanding absentee/mail-in voting is unlikely to increase fraud
* Expanding vote-by-mail is fair to both major parties
* States have the capacity and experience to expand absentee/mail-in voting

* Against absentee/mail-in voting expansion
* Absentee/mail-in voting is less reliable than in-person voting
* Absentee/mail-in voting systems can fail
* Absentee/mail-in voting poses a higher risk for fraud and manipulation
* It is unnecessary to change voting systems in response to COVID-19
* The expansion of absentee/mail-in voting systems open the door to flawed election policies
* Expansion of absentee/mail-in voting systems creates election controversies (“blue shift”)

### Religious service restrictions[edit]

The main areas of disagreement about religious service restrictions are:

* In favor of religious service restrictions
* Public safety priorities take precedence over religious interests
* Religious services present a higher risk than other social and business activities
* Restrictions on physical gatherings do not preclude religious practices
* Limiting religious gatherings during a pandemic aligns with most religious values
* Skepticism of religious restrictions has harmed religious communities during COVID-19
* In-person religious gatherings are not essential services
* Religious gathering restrictions do not discriminate against faiths

* Against religious service restrictions
* Religious service restrictions violate the First Amendment and religious freedom
* Religious services are essential
* Religious service restrictions put church viability at risk
* There is insufficient evidence that religious services pose a higher risk than other social and business activities
* COVID-19 religious restrictions unfair to some faiths

## General resources[edit]

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
* National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
* Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
* U.S. Department of Education
* World Health Organization
* Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
* Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
* Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)

## See also[edit]

* Ballotpedia: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
* State government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
* Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
* Changes to ballot measure campaigns, procedures, and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2022
* Ballotpedia's elections calendar

## External links[edit]

The external resources listed below are related to the coronavirus pandemic.

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
* U.S. Department of Education
* World Health Organization

## Footnotes[edit]

v • e

Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021

Overviews|

Overview • Changes to election dates and procedures • Ballotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemic • Resources for citizens • Terms and definitions

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Articles by Type|

Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders •  Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements

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State responses to coronavirus|

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

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State paths to recovery|

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

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State school responses|

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

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Coronavirus debate topics|

Elections • Protests • Religious service restrictions • School closures  • State lockdown

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Coronavirus debate by state|

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming