Emergency orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ended in two states last week: 

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) issued an order terminating the statewide COVID-19 emergency. Ivey first declared a state of emergency in reaction to the pandemic on March 13, 2020.  

• Gov. Jared Polis (D) ended Colorado’s COVID-19 health emergency on July 8. Polis subsequently issued a new “Recovery Executive Order,” allowing him to retain some aspects of his original order, including the continued deployment of the National Guard to assist local governments with vaccination efforts. Polis first declared a health emergency in response to the pandemic on March 10, 2020. 

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As of July 9, COVID-19 emergency orders have expired in 24 states. They remain active in 26 states. 

Governors and state agencies in all 50 states issued orders declaring active emergencies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. These orders allowed officials to access resources unavailable to them during non-emergencies, like stockpiles of medical goods and equipment, and to waive or suspend certain rules and regulations.

Governors and state agencies relied on emergency power authority to enact lockdown and stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and other restrictions on businesses and individuals. 

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