Several states have declared a "state of emergency" in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus officially known as COVID-19.
But what exactly is a state of emergency, and how does it affect day-to-day life?
Daniel Radcliffe Doesn't Have The Coronavirus and Neither Does Celine DionA state of emergency is when a government official feels that action needs to be taken urgently. Typically, when a disaster has occurred or an event that might be severe enough to need aid or drastic action, a declaration is made. This authorizes the official to speed up assistance to communities and make resources available to whoever needs them.
According to the State of New Jersey's website, there are occasions where a state will seek federal assistance if the scope of what's required exceeds the current resources.
In terms of how the state of emergency impacts everyday life, this depends on the disaster that has occurred. In the U.S., these declarations are used when natural disasters or extreme weather hit the country. On a federal level, a state of emergency might be declared in the wake of a terrorist attack.
The declaration itself does not affect policies for businesses or cover employees who are unable to travel into work. It is for the business to address hours of operations and compensation, however if a federal disaster is declared, employees could be eligible for unemployment assistance.
In light of the COVID-19 virus, which was officially named by the World Health Organization (WHO), the following states have declared a state of emergency:
Alongside the COVID-19 outbreak, Tennesse declared a state of emergency when tornadoes raced through parts of the state in February 2020.
On a federal level, a s per the 1976 National Emergencies Act, the president can declare a national emergency, however, they need to meet certain "procedural formalities" before using such powers.
Sophia Waterfield is a reporter for Newsweek based at its London bureau. She has written for publications such as Metro UK, New Scientist, and Forbes.com, and has covered topics such as business technology, digital healthcare, disabilities and mental illness. Sophia graduated from the University for the Creative Arts in 2010 where she studied journalism. You can contact her on s.waterfield@newsweek.com.
Sophia Waterfield is a reporter for Newsweek based at its London bureau. She has written for publications such as Metro UK, . Read more
