On February 28, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom officially ended the state’s COVID-19 state of emergency, marking a significant shift in the state’s response to the pandemic. The decision came after nearly three years of public health measures and restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19, as the state saw a marked decline in cases and hospitalizations heading into 2023.
Governor Newsom’s announcement was made in alignment with the broader national trend of reducing pandemic-era emergency declarations. The end of the state of emergency means that California will no longer operate under the emergency powers that had been granted to the governor in March 2020. While some emergency measures related to COVID-19 will remain in place for a while, such as vaccine requirements in certain settings and mask mandates in high-risk environments like public transit, the decision reflects California’s transition to managing COVID-19 as an endemic virus.
“California has made tremendous progress in combating the pandemic,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. “Thanks to the efforts of our healthcare workers, frontline workers, and Californians who stepped up to get vaccinated, the worst of the crisis is behind us. We are now entering a new phase in which we focus on long-term management and resilience.”
Dr. Tomás Aragón, the Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), also addressed the move, noting the importance of continuing to monitor the virus even as emergency measures were phased out. “The end of the state of emergency doesn’t mean the end of COVID-19,” Dr. Aragón emphasized. “We will continue to monitor the virus, and our public health response will be based on science and data to ensure the health and safety of Californians.”
The official end of the state of emergency came after months of declining COVID-19 case numbers across California. By early 2023, the state had witnessed a significant drop in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The availability of vaccines and boosters, as well as improved treatments for COVID-19, played a major role in reducing the severity of illness, and California’s high vaccination rate was seen as one of the key factors in the decline of cases.
While the decision to end the state of emergency was welcomed by many, public health experts continued to stress the importance of staying vigilant. Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), pointed out that although case numbers were low, COVID-19 had not disappeared. “We need to continue with our vaccination efforts, especially as new variants of concern continue to emerge,” Rutherford said. “We may not need the same level of restrictions we had in the past, but we must be prepared for the possibility of future surges.”
Local officials in San Francisco, including San Francisco Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax, reiterated that the city would continue to follow state and federal guidelines for COVID-19, even as the state of emergency ended. “While the emergency phase may be over, we remain focused on protecting vulnerable populations, ensuring access to testing and vaccines, and being prepared to respond to new developments,” Dr. Colfax stated.
California’s health system, which had been under immense strain during the height of the pandemic, was significantly less burdened in early 2023, although officials remained cautious. Hospitals and healthcare providers were still prioritizing preparedness for any potential resurgence of the virus, as well as ensuring that the healthcare workforce remained resilient after years of high stress.
In addition to COVID-19, California officials continued to emphasize the need to address other public health issues exacerbated by the pandemic, such as mental health challenges, economic recovery, and access to care in underserved communities. The state had also made significant investments in public health infrastructure during the pandemic, and Governor Newsom pledged to continue those efforts.
The end of California’s COVID-19 state of emergency was a symbolic milestone, reflecting both the progress made and the ongoing challenges in managing the pandemic. As the state transitions to a post-pandemic future, officials are focused on maintaining the gains made during the pandemic while remaining vigilant against the evolving virus.
