Gavin Newsom has signed 11 executive orders. Here’s what they do about the coronavirus

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken multiple steps this month to address the growing coronavirus crisis, signing a total of 11 executive orders since March 12.

A three-month tax extension and a statewide directive to stay at home are perhaps two of the more notable ones, but many more changes have occurred at the Democratic governor’s direction.

Here’s what you need to know:

Halting evictions

Newsom directed banks to immediately halt foreclosures and evictions if people can’t afford to pay because of the coronavirus. He also authorized local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners through the end of May. Under his directive, tenants must still pay the amount they owe, and landlords can still recover overdue rent.

To protect renters and homeowners, he also directed the Public Utilities Commission to monitor steps taken by utilities to implement customer service protections for “critical utilities,” including gas, water, electricity, internet and phone service. The commission must now offer weekly updates.

Firing workers more easily

An executive order Newsom signed by Newsom on March 17 makes it easier for certain employers to fire their workers. While written notice is still necessary, some workers can now be fired without 60 days notice as long as the mass layoffs were caused by coronavirus-related “business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time that notice would have been required.”

Newsom’s action to indefinitely suspend parts of the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act aims to allow employers to act quickly to mitigate or prevent the spread of the virus, according guidance issued by the labor commissioner’s office.

Housing the homeless

Newsom’s first executive order in response to the coronavirus allowed the state to negotiate with hotels and other part-time housing groups to provide Californians with temporary residences and medical facilities.

The governor later gave local governments more flexibility to spend the $100 million emergency housing money allocated to them by easing certain restrictions that could hamper their ability to quickly house the homeless.

Making it easier to get unemployment benefits, other assistance

Newsom has waived the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19. In a separate executive order on March 17, Newsom allowed Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, Cash Assistance for Immigrants and In-Home Supportive Services recipients to continue receiving program benefits for three months without interruption or a reassessment of their eligibility.

Keeping schools closed but funded

School districts, county education offices and charter schools, will continue to receive state funding while they are closed so they can continue paying their employees and offering students the school meals they would have otherwise missed.

Newsom also encouraged K-12 schools to offer distance learning or independent studying to students and directed two state agencies to provide guidance on how parents should care for their children during ordinary school hours.

The governor also got approval from President Donald Trump’s administration to halt statewide standardized testing. High school students will still be able to take Advanced Placement tests from home. The College Board, however, has cancelled its May 2 SAT test.

Dealing with the shortage of healthcare workers

California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority, Department of Social Services and Department of Public Health can now allow first responders and health and human services care providers with no signs of symptoms to continue working during the pandemic.

Newsom has also given the public health department director the authority to waive certain licensing and staffing requirements as long as the agency posts any waiver approvals on its website.

Additionally, he suspended work hour limits for employees within his emergency services office.

Transitioning to mail-in ballots

California’s March 3 presidential primary election day may be over, but a couple hundred thousand ballots remain uncounted. Newsom is giving counties three more weeks to record the outstanding votes, meaning the results likely won’t be certified by the state until May 1.

California overwhelmingly votes by mail. A recent order from Newsom aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus during the voting process will require some key races to only offer mail-in ballots.

Most notably, those eligible to participate in the May 12 special election to fill the vacancy left by former Rep. Katie Hill will be required to cast their ballots by mail. Republican Mike Garcia and Democrat Christy Smith are competing to serve the remainder of Hill’s term. They’ll square off against each other in the November general election to see who wins the subsequent, full two-year term.

Four counties — Contra Costa, Plumas, Santa Clara and Sonoma — are already planning to have their May 5 local elections conducted entirely by mail, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Conducting government meetings

State and local government bodies can now hold meetings via teleconference. The decision from Newsom aims to curb the spread of the coronavirus among elected officials conducting essential business to keep the state and its cities functional.