California’s pandemic response saved tens of thousands of lives, protected the economy, deployed state-leading financial aid and built an unprecedented public health infrastructure.
The SMARTER plan will maintain California’s operational readiness to support communities and rapidly respond to outbreaks
SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023, paving the way for the elimination of one of the most effective and necessary tools that California uses to combat COVID-19. This timeline gives health care systems the flexibility they need to handle potential surges that could occur after the holidays in January and February, in addition to providing state and local partners the time they need to prepare for this phase and set themselves up for success afterward.
With hospitalizations and deaths dramatically reduced due to state vaccination and public health efforts, California has the tools it needs to continue fighting COVID-19 when the State of Emergency ends at the end of February, including vaccines and boosters, testing, treatments and other mitigations. measures such as masking and indoor ventilation. As the State of Emergency is lifted, the SMARTER Plan continues to guide California’s strategy to protect people from COVID-19.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have been guided by science and data – quickly and strategically to save lives. The State of Emergency is an effective and necessary tool that we use to protect our country, and we would not have gotten to this point without it,” said Governor Newsom. With the operational readiness we have built and the steps we will continue to take moving forward, California is ready to phase out these devices.”
To maintain California’s COVID-19 laboratory testing and therapeutic care capacity, the Newsom Administration will seek two statutory changes immediately after the Legislature returns: 1) Nurses’ ability to distribute COVID-19 therapies; and 2) The continued ability of laboratory workers to only process COVID-19 tests.
“California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prepared us for whatever comes next. As we move into this next phase, the infrastructure and processes we’ve invested in and built will provide us with the tools to manage all the ups and downs of the future,” said the Health Secretary. California & Human Services Agency, Dr. Mark Ghaly. “Although the threat of this virus is still real, our preparedness and collective work have helped turn this crisis into a manageable situation.”
Throughout the pandemic, Governor Newsom, the Legislature and state agencies have been guided by science and data to protect Californians and save lives – with a focus on those facing the greatest social and health inequities – remaining nimble to adapt mitigation efforts along the way. as we learn more about COVID-19. The state’s efforts to support Californians resulted in:
California’s pandemic response efforts have saved tens of thousands of lives, kept people out of hospitals and protected the economy:
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