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North Carolina's COVID-19 State of Emergency officially ends, Gov. Roy Cooper announces

North Carolina's COVID-19 state of emergency had remained in effect since March 2020.

Posted Updated
NC Gov. Roy Cooper discusses Covid-19 pandemic
By
Mark Bergin
, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Gov. Roy Cooper officially ended North Carolina’s COVID-19 State of Emergency on Monday.

North Carolina’s COVID-19 state of emergency had remained in effect since March 2020.

“The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our state and people now have the knowledge and the tools like vaccines, boosters and therapeutic treatments to keep them safe,” Cooper said in a news release. “Executive orders issued under the State of Emergency protected public health and helped us save lives and livelihoods.

“North Carolina is emerging even stronger than before and my administration will continue to work to protect the health and safety of our people.”

Many of the state’s public health measures combating the pandemic had previously been lifted. Cooper's administration said the final version of the state emergency declaration that expired on Monday had continued to allow the distribution of vaccines and tests and offered regulatory flexibility to ensure adequate ​staff capacity in the state’s healthcare system.

In July, Cooper signed a $27.9 billion spending plan that included provisions the governor and state health officials wanted. Most states ended their states of emergency well before North Carolina, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person. The CDC also said people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others.

“COVID-19 is still with us, and North Carolinians now have multiple ways to manage the virus, so it doesn’t manage us,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley. “NCDHHS will remain focused on COVID-19 trends and data and ensuring we stay prepared.”

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