How Many States are Still Under Public Health Emergency Orders & Covid-19 Related Restrictions?

Most states throughout the country have ended their Covid-related public health emergency orders and masking restrictions. California is one of the few still laboring under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s now 900-day State of Emergency. Because of this, some county public health officials continue to impose masking orders. Some school districts and universities have imposed masking orders on incoming students.

California, Washington State, and West Virginia still have Public Health States of Emergency in place indefinitely, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.

What are the other states doing?

Colorado’s Public Health State of Emergency will expire September 20, 2022.

New Mexico’s Public Health State of Emergency will expire September 15, 2022.

Kansas’ Public Health State of Emergency will expire January 20, 2023.

Illinois’ Public Health State of Emergency will expire September 18, 2022.

Georgia’s and New York’s Public Health States of Emergency will expire September 12, 2022.

Connecticut Gov. Lamont signed a public health emergency declaration that will allow the state to continue to receive supplemental federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through December 28, 2022, or until the federal public health emergency ends, whichever comes first.

Florida’s Public Health State of Emergency expired on June 26, 2021.

South Carolina’s Public Health State of Emergency expired on June 6, 2021. And South Carolina even prohibited state and local entities from enforcing mask mandates, effective May 11, 2021.

South Dakota’s Public Health State of Emergency expired on June 30, 2021, and also declared government entities are prohibited from requiring face coverings as a condition to access facilities or benefits.

Texas’ Public Health State of Emergency expired on August 20, 2022. State and local governments are prohibited from requiring people to wear masks, with the exceptions of State living centers, government hospitals, and certain correctional facilities.

Virginia’s Public Health State of Emergency expired on March 22, 2022, and declared Employers may not discriminate against individuals for wearing or not wearing masks.

“States are also addressing school mask mandates amid increasing youth vaccination rates and fluctuations in pediatric COVID-19 cases,” according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. This map shows states’ current approaches to school COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements:

Washington D.C. has a student Covid-19 vaccine mandate in place.

California has a pending statewide student Covid-19 vaccine mandate. And October 1, 2021, Gov. Newsom directed the California Department of Public Health to add the Covid-19 vaccine to the required immunizations for students to attend school in person.

Purple states have a ban on Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Grey states have no ban or mandate in place.

The AARP has a list of each state’s vaccine, testing and mask requirements. They report California State employees and health care workers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to regular testing (once a week). Employees who work in high-risk congregate settings, such as jails and long-term care facilities, were required to get a booster dose by March 1. School staff must be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.

California’s Mask regulations continue: Face-covering is required statewide for people age 2 and older in health care and long-term care facilities, emergency and homeless shelters, and jails and prisons.

In Los Angeles County, masks are mandatory on public transit and in transportation hubs such as airports and bus and train stations. The San Francisco Bay Area’s BART rail system reinstated a mask requirement for riders July 28; the order is in effect through at least Oct. 1. A mask mandate for San Jose city workers has been extended to Aug. 26.