At his State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday, Governor John Bel Edwards says he will allow the state’s COVID emergency order to expire.
The public health emergency order is set to expire this Wednesday.
“On March 11, 2020, I signed a Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. While it changed over time to reflect the ebb and flow of the pandemic, it has remained in effect since then. This Wednesday, two days from now, the order expires. And after 24 months I will not be renewing it,” said Governor Edwards.
The state's Public Health Emergency proclamation has been in effect for the past two years. In February Governor Edwards extended Louisiana’s COVID public health emergency order to support Louisiana’s response to the pandemic, but without any remaining required mitigation measures.
Although the governor is allowing the proclamation to expire he says he could reenact it if things get worst.
“Just because the proclamation is expiring, doesn’t mean that COVID is over," said the governor. “And, if the circumstances worsen and call for it, I won’t hesitate to declare another emergency.”