Regional Pacts: Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire 

Regional Pacts: Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire  

Denali Davis  

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https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2768086 

COVID-19, a world spread pandemic, has tested the powers the government holds for better or for worse. The powers governments’ has not only has been shown through their policies but individuals responses to them. 

In the United States many people have twisted policies, such as mask wearing policies, into political statements. However what really sparks controversy is the different policies and procedures formed by regional packs. Such as Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, all of which have just reopened their borders to one another. These three states are known for their love and support to each other.  The decision was made of the statistics which show a dramatic dip in the spread and number of those affected by COVID-19 in the region. 

Though Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are still in different reopening procedures and their policies are changing. From Mask wearing and stay at home lockdowns here are some different and similar procedures. 

In April Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, issued a stay at home order, “unless for an essential job or an essential personal reason, such as obtaining food, medicine, health care, or other necessary purposes,” as well as requiring face coverings, a limit of 10 person gatherings, and capacity rates. While similarly, New Hampshire, Vermont had placed stay at home orders on March 25th. All three states lifted the orders in early June.  

Not long later in July all three states opened their states to each other, additionally the borders we also opened up to Connecticut and Rhode Island. 

However differently from each other, New Hampshire opened their border from Massachusetts, Maine opened their border from New York and New Jersey, and finally Vermont opened their borders to all of New England and parts of the North East. The only restriction placed was by Maine enforcing a 14 day quarantine. 

Finally in late July, Maine placed a new executive order stating that large businesses, establishments, and more must enforce face coverings. As well as Vermont placing a new order that has increased capacity limitations, allowed in-person retail to reopen, and those 65 and older are allowed to leave their homes.  

With COVID-19 being completely unpredictable and no person knowing what will happen in the next few months, we expect that more states will be reopening. However with states reopening, especially in New England, things seem to be looking upward as the number of COVID-19 cases lessen. 

Rebecca L. Haffajee, J.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Michelle M. Mello, J.D., Ph.D. “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally — The U.S. Response to Covid-19.” The New England Journal of    Medicine, 2 Apr. 2020, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006740#article_citing_articles.  

     Accessed 2 Aug. 2020.  

Weekly counts of deaths by state and select causes, 2019-2020. National Center for Health Statistics website. Updated June 10, 2020. Accessed June 10, 2020. https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Weekly-Counts-of-Deaths-by-State-and-Select-Causes/muzy-jte6 

“Governor Murphy, Governor Cuomo, Governor Lamont, Governor Wolf, Governor Carney, Governor   Raimondo, Announce Multi-State Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy.” Official site of the state of New Jersey, nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/ 20200413a.shtml. Accessed 2020.  

“NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 2, 2020.” An Official New Hampshire Government Website, 2 Aug.  

     2020, www.nh.gov/covid19/news/docu