Pandemic nation : an examination of how executive orders impact public health outcomes in America

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine how states within the United States of America utilize executive orders to promote the strengthening of public health and its systems during times of crisis. This is explored by documenting SARS-CoV-2’s, also known as COVID-19, impact on the American public health systems through comparing three governors’ executive orders that were signed in response to the virus’ spread and its mitigation. By comparing the executive orders signed by the governors of New York, Florida, and Texas, a case is made that executive action by state level governors was a powerful tool to advance public health for the citizens under their jurisdiction during the COVID-19 2020 pandemic.