New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced Monday that the state’s COVID-19 emergency is ending amid declining cases and mounting criticism.
The COVID-19 pandemic has faded as a major concern for many Americans, but emergency orders are still in place in 10 states across the United States.
The state first declared a state of emergency in March 2020, and the governor continued to renew the declaration until around spring 2022. Around spring 2022, the pandemic eased after a brutal winter surge caused by the Omicron variant.
Nearly all emergency declarations in the remaining 10 states will expire by early 2023 unless renewed.
Below are the 10 states whose orders are still in effect as of September 12th.
California
Governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat) extended the COVID-19 emergency in June. However, according to a June 17 statement from Newsom’s office, he is “responsibly scaling back” the pandemic executive order, leaving 5% of the COVID-related provisions.
“As California navigates through the evolving pandemic, the state remains focused on keeping Californians safe while driving continued recovery,” Newsom said. “We continue to deploy proven strategies and programs that enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the evolving pandemic situation, take a fair gap and keep moving forward.”
connecticut
The state has declared a COVID-19 emergency until December 28, 2022 or until the end of the federal public health emergency, whichever comes first.
Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said in a letter to the legislature that it would be beneficial for the state to maintain a state of emergency, primarily to help with food insecurity.
During emergencies, the federal government is empowered to distribute more assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Delaware
Governor John Carney (Democrat) last updated the COVID-19 public health emergency on August 19. It will expire on September 18th unless renewed.
Washington
With the state’s COVID-19 death rate dropping, Gov. Jay Inslee (Democrat) announced the end of the public health emergency on October 31.
“We have come a long way in the last two years in developing tools that enable us to adapt and live with COVID-19,” Inslee said in a statement.
“Ending this order does not mean that we will take it less seriously or lose focus on how this virus has changed our lives. continues its commitment to public well-being, but simply uses a variety of tools better suited to the times we have entered.”
new mexico
Gov. Michelle Jujan Grisham (Democrat) has extended the state’s public health emergency for a month from Aug. 17. It will expire on September 15th unless renewed.
In updating the order, she wrote:
texas
Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) last renewed the state’s public health emergency in August and will have to decide whether to renew it again later this month.
Abbott said the COVID-19 pandemic still poses an “imminent threat of disaster to every county in Texas.”
Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker, Democrat, extended the public health emergency in August, which will remain in effect until at least September 17th.
More than 34,500 Illinoisans have died in the pandemic, Pritzker said, adding that “predicting what will happen in the future with this pandemic remains a difficult task.”
Kansas
The Kansas legislature passed a law this year extending emergency powers through January 2023. This is primarily to help overburdened medical workers.
west virginia
Governor Jim Justice (Republican) first declared a public health emergency in March 2020, but has yet to lift the order. He continues to provide regular updates on the state’s response to the pandemic.
rhode island
Governor Daniel McKee extended the public health emergency earlier this month, citing “the danger to health and life from SARS-CoV-2.” It will expire after September 30th unless renewed.
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