By Country
United States
Show me all types of advances during COVID-19
| Measure | Category |
|---|---|
| Indian Health Service Expanded Telehealth Services | Equality, Indigenous peoples |
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The Indian Health Service (IHS) announced “its expansion of telehealth across IHS federal facilities” allowing “more American Indians and Alaska Natives to access healthcare they need from their home, without… |
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| HHS Awards $15 Million to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Tribal Communities | Equality, Indigenous peoples |
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration “awarded $15 million to 52 Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, and other health services providers… |
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| CDC COVID-19 Funding for Tribes | Equality, Indigenous peoples |
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“As of June 15, 2021, CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has provided $219.5 million to tribal nations, consortia, and organizations for responding to COVID-19 across tribal communities.” Of… |
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| Indian Health Service COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine Plan | Equality, Indigenous peoples |
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The Indian Health Service (IHS) COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine Plan November 2020 “details how the IHS health care system will prepare for and operationalize a vaccine when it becomes available” and… |
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| Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants | Equality, Migration, asylum, and trafficking |
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California “is providing one-time state-funded disaster relief assistance to undocumented adults who are ineligible for other forms of assistance, including assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)… |
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| State of our Immigrant City, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Annual Report for Calendar Year 2020 | Equality, Migration, asylum, and trafficking |
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In order “[t]o address economic barriers and deep gaps in the inclusion of immigrants in COVID-19 relief and crisis response efforts, MOIA [Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs] partnered with the… |
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| President’s Interagency Task Force, Report on U.S. Government Efforts To Combat Trafficking in Persons | Equality, Migration, asylum, and trafficking |
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Some “key efforts” that have been taken by government agencies “in response to COVID-19” include: engagement “with local governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) nationwide to understand the impact of COVID-19… |
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| Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act | Equality, Persons with disabilities |
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This guidance which “provides information” about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and “pandemic planning in the workplace” was “re-issued on March 19, 2020, to incorporate updates… |
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| Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak | Education, Equality, Persons with disabilities, Social-economic rights |
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This document addresses “states’ responsibilities to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and their families, and to the staff serving these children.” Questions and answers address: obligations of local educational… |
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| Revised Phase Two Guidance Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): Guidance for Mass Gatherings | Civil and political rights, Freedom of association and assembly |
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In the District of Columbia, while the guidelines prohibit “[i]ndoor gatherings of more than 10 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people,” an exception to this order is:… |
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| Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Johnson v. Iowa Dep’t of Pub. Safety, No. 4:20-cv-00306-RGE-CFB (S.D. Iowa Dec. 10, 2020) | Civil and political rights, Freedom of association and assembly, Freedom of expression |
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After plaintiffs were banned “from the Iowa State Capitol and Capitol Complex grounds for periods ranging from six months to one year” following a protest, they sought “an order preliminarily… |
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| Juneteenth Rally Planned in Madison Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Unrest | Civil and political rights, Freedom of association and assembly |
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In Madison, Wisconsin, although Juneteenth, “an annual nationwide day of celebration to commemorate the freeing of the slaves after the Civil War” was originally “shifted online due to the COVID-19… |
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| U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), “Lies in the Time of COVID19” | Civil and political rights, Freedom of expression |
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“The United States Agency for Global Media and its networks have remained committed to providing accurate and unbiased information about the coronavirus, clarifying any misinformation, and exposing disinformation related to… |
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| IPIB Information on Open Meetings/Public Records & COVID-19 | Civil and political rights, Freedom of expression |
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According to this directive, the Governor will “continue to temporarily suspend” provisions of the Iowa Code “imposing a requirement to hold a public meeting or hearing, to the extent that… |
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| Governor Ivey Allocates $100 Million for Alabama Broadband Connectivity for Students | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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“Alabama Broadband Connectivity (ABC) for Students, will provide vouchers for families of students currently eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, or other income criteria. The vouchers will help cover… |
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| Arizona Department of Education Announces $1.5 Million Dollars to Fund Final Mile Project | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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“Federal relief and recovery funds available to [the Arizona Department of Education] will fund high-speed internet infrastructure to homes located in six geographically diverse rural areas of Arizona. The project… |
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| Chicago Launches Groundbreaking Initiative to Bridge Digital Divide, Providing Free High-Speed Internet Access to Over 100,000 Chicago Public School Students | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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“‘Chicago Connected’ . . . will provide free high-speed internet service to approximately 100,000 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students in their households.” The program “will provide high-speed internet for households… |
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| COVID-19 Contact Tracing Privacy Act under House Bill 2016 (New Sec. 16) | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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The stated purpose of the COVID-19 Contact Tracing Privacy Act of Kansas is: “to protect the privacy of persons whose information is collected through contact tracing and the confidentiality of… |
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| New York Contact Tracing Law: Senate Bill S8450C | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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The New York legislation includes provisions on: confidentiality (“All contact tracing information shall be kept confidential by any contact tracer and contact tracing entity, and may not be disclosed except… |
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| $50 Million in Grant Funding Available to Help Students Gain Internet Access | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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In Ohio, “[t]he lieutenant governor announced the state will set aside $50 million of funding through the federal CARES Act to provide hotspots and internet-enabled devices to students.” According to… |
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| Connected Beyond the Classroom | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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The City of San Antonio “propose[s] to build a collaborative, citywide, multi-government agency network between the City and other governmental entities to expand fiber capability and student access in San… |
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| COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act | Equality, Racial and ethnic minorities |
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Given, among other factors, that “[f]ollowing the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders,” this law… |
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| Health Equity | Equality, Racial and ethnic minorities |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website includes a dedicated section entitled “Health Equity-Promoting Fair Access to Health” with several sub-sections including: Health Equity Considerations and Racial and… |
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| Outdoor Emergency Shelters Add to Urgent Work Protecting People Experiencing Homelessness from COVID-19 | Equality, Housing, LGBTIQ+, Racial and ethnic minorities, Social-economic rights |
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The City of Portland, JOIN, and “a team of providers and advocates” announced the opening of three “Outdoor Emergency Shelters [which] will operate like temporary tent villages — offering not… |
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| Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth Emergency Grant | Equality, LGBTIQ+ |
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The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth awarded more than $18,000 “in emergency grants to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ youth.” Recipients included individual youths as well… |
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| Gov. Wolf Announces Inclusion of Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation or Expression in COVID-19 Data Collection | Equality, LGBTIQ+ |
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The Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania “has chosen to work with Sara Alert, a new data collection platform and has requested a system modification to the platform… |
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| SB-932 (California) Communicable Diseases: Data Collection | Equality, LGBTIQ+ |
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According to this bill, “[a]ny electronic tool used by a health officer . . . for the purpose of reporting cases of communicable disease to the State Department of Public… |
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| A Summary of CDC’s Family Planning Recommendations for Healthcare Providers | Equality, Reproductive rights |
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Noting that “[d]uring COVID-19, it is critical that access to family planning services remains available while keeping healthcare providers and their patients safe,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… |
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| Senate Bill 21-009 Concerning the Creation of a Reproductive Health Care Program, and, in Connection Therewith, Providing Contraceptive Methods and Counseling Services to Participants and Making an Appropriation | Equality, Reproductive rights |
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This bill in Colorado notes that “[d]uring the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that family planning services remain accessible while keeping providers and patients safe,” that “[t]he needs of various… |
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| FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock has Notified ACOG [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] and SMFM [Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine] that the Agency will “Exercise Enforcement Discretion” Regarding Mifepristone though the Duration of the COVID19 Public Health Emergency | Equality, Reproductive rights |
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The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a letter that it “intends to exercise enforcement discretion during the COVID-19 PHE… |
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| Executive Order No. 202.12: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency | Equality, Reproductive rights |
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Following policies at some private hospitals in New York City “barring spouses, partners and other family members or outside support people, such as doulas, from the delivery room,” Executive Order… |
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| Executive Order N-45-20 | Children, Employment, Equality, Social-economic rights |
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The Governor of the State of California issued an Executive Order with provisions to: “facilitate the continued provision of child care during the COVID-19 outbreak,” “ensure that essential critical infrastructure… |
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| Governor Hogan Announces $60 Million Pandemic Relief Grant Program for Child Care Providers | Children, Employment, Equality, Social-economic rights |
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The Governor of Maryland “announced that licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers are eligible to apply for Child Care Pandemic Relief Fund grants to help meet… |
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| SAMHSA Resources and Information | Health, Social-economic rights |
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SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has a dedicated website on Coronavirus (COVID-19) containing “guidance and resources to assist individuals, providers, communities and states” based on the recognition… |
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| COVID-19 and HIV | Health, Social-economic rights |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has produced a number of guidance materials on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. These include, among others, a list of questions and answers in… |
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| Secretary Perdue Announces Proactive Flexibilities to Feed Children When Schools Close | Education, Social-economic rights |
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This announcement addresses student access to food during the pandemic including through “proactive flexibilities” that will “allow meal service during school closure to minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus.” |
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| Senate Bill No. 117, Chapter 3 An Act Relating to Education Finance, and Making an Appropriation Therefor, to Take Effect Immediately, Bill Related to the Budget | Education, Social-economic rights |
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This California bill addresses “Education finance: average daily attendance and timeline waivers: protective equipment and cleaning appropriation.” Among other measures, the bill would: “prevent the loss of funding related to… |
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| H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 | Social-economic rights, Water and sanitation |
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The law contains a section entitled “funding for water assistance program” under which funding “is appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services . . . for grants to… |
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| Chairman’s Eighth Set of Orders under G.L. c. 25, § 4B | Social-economic rights, Water and sanitation |
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A letter from the Chairman of the Department of Public Utilities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts addressed to, among others, “the investor-owned water distribution companies . . . regulated by… |
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| Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 Providing Measures to Limit Foreclosures, Evictions, and Disconnections from Service | Social-economic rights, Water and sanitation |
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According to this directive from the governor of Montana, “no business or political subdivision of the State supplying . . . water” among other utilities, “for use, in whole or… |
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| Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Extending Utility Shutoff Moratorium Through June 30, 2021 | Social-economic rights, Water and sanitation |
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In this executive order, the governor noting that “many New Jersey residents continue to experience financial hardship as a result of the Public Health Emergency, which may hinder their ability… |
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| Pandemic Response Accountability Committee | Governance, Rule of law |
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The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) was allocated $80,000,000 in the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” also known as “the CARES Act’’ to “promote transparency and support oversight… |
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| Recycling and Sustainable Management of Food During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency | Environmental justice, Governance |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a website that provides “tips and reminders” as well as resources from the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of… |
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| IPIB Information on Open Meetings/Public Records & COVID-19 | Civil and political rights, Freedom of expression |
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According to this directive, the Governor will “continue to temporarily suspend” provisions of the Iowa Code “imposing a requirement to hold a public meeting or hearing, to the extent that… |
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| Affordable Connectivity Program | Civil and political rights, Technology and digital rights |
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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an extension of the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) which provided “a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households,” including “[u]p to… |
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| New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program | Housing, Social-economic rights |
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The state of New Hampshire put into place a range of programs including: the “Emergency Rental Assistance Program” to provide “assistance to eligible residents of New Hampshire who cannot pay… |
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| State of New Hampshire Emergency Energy Assistance Programs | Housing, Social-economic rights |
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Through the “State of New Hampshire Emergency Energy Assistance Programs,” funding of 35 million USD was made available “for emergency energy assistance for New Hampshire residents . . . to… |
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| United States v. Allen, 34 F. 4th 789 (9th Cir. 2022) | Governance, Rule of law |
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The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reviewed a district court decision that, “at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, prohibited members of the public from attending… |
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