Updates

Updates on Industry Closures and Reopening

This page lists the updates to state orders that we make in each version of the dataset
To return to the main data page click here

May 13, 2021 Version

Added variables indicating whether industries were open as of January 8 to April 30, 2021.
Between January and April many CA counties toggled between substantial and moderate, the former
of the two closing bars and enacting stricter capacity restrictions.
In March, several states -- including Connecticut, Arkansas, Iowa, and Mississippi --
allowed activity in all industries to resume.
Between March and April, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and
Wyoming reopened large-scale gatherings, arenas, theaters and stadiums in part or in full.
Maine, Idaho, Hawaii, and some counties in Colorado reopened bars in April
All counties in Nebraska except Lancaster reopened.
Between January and April, Arizona counties moved between different phases based on local
COVID-19 case counts, affecting the open status of movie theaters, amusement parks, gyms,
bars, and casinos.

January 6 Version

Added variables indicating whether industries were open as of October 9 to January 1.
We have renamed all variables to include the year (either 2020 or 2021.)
Drawing on data collected by Christopher Adolph, Kenya Amano, Bree Bang-Jensen, Nancy
Fullman, and John Wilkerson (see https://github.com/COVID19StatePolicy/SocialDistancing )
we have updated our measures of K-12 schools' (NAICS 6111) open/closed status.
Throughout November and December, an increasing proportion of California counties had
‘substantial’ or ‘widespread’ COVID spread. As a result, offices, bars, entertainment,
and movie theaters were closed in a larger share of California.
New Mexico reinstated its original business closure order in the middle of November,
then moved to a targeted (by county) scheme. Throughout December, all counties (except
for Catron) are in the “red” (most restrictive) zone, with bars, and several entertainment
industries closed.
Arizona closed movie theaters and bars in the beginning of November.
In Illinois, indoor dining at bars and restaurants, casinos/gambling, performing arts
centers, museums, amusement centers closed as of 11/20/20.
As of November 27th, bars across Louisiana were allowed to open for outdoor service, delivery,
and take-out only.
New York introduced a Micro-Cluster strategy, defining regions below the county level. In
general, these micro clusters are substantially smaller than counties. For this reason, we
have designated industries as allowed to be open (if they were previously so).
Minnesota closed gyms, restaurants/bars, outdoor/indoor events and entertainment, organized
sports in mid November. In mid December restaurants and bars were allowed to open for outdoor
service.
Bars closed in Honolulu, Hawaii as of September 25th.
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania closed gyms, theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, libraries,
and casinos with rising case counts on November 20. The remainder of the state followed suit in
early December. These state-wide restrictions were lifted in early January.
Rhode Island closed gyms, bars, and other entertainment venues on November 30.
Vermont closed bars on November 14.
Washington fully closed gyms, bowling centers, convention centers, sporting arenas, movie
theaters, museums to indoor service and reduced capacity in retail, religious services, and
personal services, in addition to other industries on November 16.
Michigan introduced a November 18th epidemic order “Pause to Save Lives” which closed
theaters, movie theaters, arenas, bowling centers, casinos, and organized sports (except
professional sports). This pause has been extended to the first weeks of 2021.
Beginning in mid November, Oregon instituted a county-based approach. In the last weeks of
November, offices, entertainment industries, bars and restaurants, gyms, bowling alleys, and
movie theaters were closed statewide. In December, these industries were closed in a subset of
Oregon’s counties.

October 5, 2020 Version

Added variables indicating whether industries were open as of August 14th to October 2nd
K-12 Schools: The below reopening of schools are coded based upon the following rule –
if any type of public school within a county or state has the option to reopen to in-person
learning in part or in full, we consider schools within the county or state as reopened

New York permitted schools to reopen as of August 8 (however partial or full
reopening are decided at the district level)
Delaware has begun partially reopening
New Mexico opened some elementary schools in certain counties
Vermont reopened public schools on September 8, with the frequency and extent
of in-person learning decided on a district-by-district basis

Iowa closed bars in 6 counties from August 28 to September 18
Washington introduced a Modified Phase 1 on August 27, which retained the original Phase 1
openings and also reopened religious services to 25% capacity, taverns, breweries, wineries
and distilleries, and increased retail capacity size from 15% to 30%; opened gyms statewide
on September 11
Arizona fully reopened Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties on August 28; 8 counties
transferred from the Substantial to Moderate phase between August 27 and September 24
(Gila, Graham, Mohave, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yuma)
Ohio reopened entertainment venues statewide on August 25 and adult day care centers on
August 31
Michigan reopened gyms and pools statewide on September 9
Florida opened casinos in Miami Dade County at the end of August. The temporary closure
of bars that began in June ended Sept 14 (for all counties except Miami Dade). Miami Dade
later reopened bars on September 25. The entire state entered the final phase of its
reopening plan on September 25.
North Carolina reopened museums, aquariums, gyms, bowling alleys, golf courses, child care
centers, personal care industries, and restaurants on September 4.
Maryland entered stage three of their recovery on September 4 in which indoor theaters and
outdoor venues could reopen with limited capacity
New Jersey reopened amusement parks, college campuses, and indoor gyms on September
1, indoor theaters and performance venues on September 4
Colorado introduced a Dial Framework on September 14 which set business and capacity
restrictions for specific counties according to certain health metrics. For all but 5 counties,
this meant closed bars, reopened but limited schools, places of worship, gyms, retail,
offices, personal services, and manufacturing
California counties introduced Blueprint for a Safer Economy as of August 31, which
assigned each county a tier according to key metrics and reopened all retail, shopping
centers, and hair salons/barber shops subject to varying capacity limits. The changes in
sept25updates.do reflect the September 14th and September 29th tier assignments.
Massachusetts reopened indoor and outdoor arcades beginning September 17
Oregon moved Umatilla and Morrow counties to Phase 2 as of September 18th, which meant
that indoor arcades, movie theaters, and bowling alleys reopened with reduced capacity
Louisiana allowed bars with fewer than 5% positivity rate to open. The parishes included
on September 4 were Orleans, Jefferson Davis, St. John the Baptist, Bienville, and
Plaquemines. St. Landry, Acadia joined later by September 17

August 5 Version

Added variables indicating whether industries were open as of July 31 or as of August 7
Added movie theaters (50% capacity) and gyms to Washington's Phase III essential
industry list (reopening_wa.xlsx)
Kentucky closes bars in the last week of July. Santa Cruz County and San Mateo County
in California were added to the state's watch list in that week. (create_dataset.do)
South Carolina allows movie theaters, concert halls, and sport arenas to open on August 3
(reopening_other.xlsx)
South Carolina had allowed retail to re-open in late April, something that we had previously missed.
(reopening_other.xlsx)
Previously, we had categorized Allegheny County, Pennsylvania as having closed restaurants
and bars from the weeks of July 3 to July 17. In fact, outdoor service was allowed beginning
July 8

July 21 Version

Added variables indicating whether industries were open as of July 17 or as of July 24
New York, New York City moved into the final phase of the state's reopening plan
California increased the scope of its re-closures
Louisiana, Pennsylvania and New York closed bars statewide
Bars closed in Monongalia County, West Virginia