On Monday, March 2, 2020, governors throughout the United States joined Vice President Mike Pence on a teleconference to discuss the coordinated federal-state response to COVID-19 (coronavirus).
National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Larry Hogan (MD) and Vice Chair Andrew Cuomo (NY) released a statement following the teleconference, noting that they “appreciate the vice president’s commitment to ensuring that states have the resources we need to protect the health and safety of our citizens, and we urge the Administration and Congress to reject partisanship and work together as they negotiate emergency supplemental appropriations for the national coronavirus response.”
The governors recognized that “States and localities are at the forefront of health crises, and novel coronavirus is no exception. Indeed, many of the confirmed cases in the United States have been identified due to the vigilance and dedication of state and local health departments. It is critical that we are reimbursed for costs already incurred in assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak, and any appropriation must fund the ongoing and future preparation and response efforts by our states.”
According to the NGA, Governors are working closely with federal and local officials as well as private sector partners to address the threat of the novel coronavirus. Some states have also taken specific actions to combat the virus, and that (growing) list can be found on the NGA website here. While that list is not exhaustive, it does highlight key actions and resources that may inform other states and territories as they prepare for/respond to COVID-19.
Resources
A webinar presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NGA, and the American Bar Association highlighted an overview of the global and US situation as well as public health planning considerations. During the webinar, legal experts discussed best practices for legal preparedness and described legal concepts such as disease surveillance and reporting requirements, nonpharmaceutical interventions, and social distancing measures.
The NGA also issued a memorandum that outlined resources for tracking COVID-19 and assessing state authorities that may be exercised to prevent/respond to the disease and other public health threats.
A virtual resource center for public health emergency preparedness can be found on the NGA website, which includes links to webinars, 2019 states’ plans to enhance public health and emergency response, 2018 states’ plans, and links to other resources.
Also included on the website is “The Governor’s Guide to Public Health Preparedness,” a primer on the fundamentals of public health preparedness for governors and state homeland security professionals.
Governors plan to remain in close contact with one another and continue to hold weekly calls while they work together to “tackle this public health threat.”