Missouri Governor Announces An End To COVID-19 Related State Of Emergency

Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that the State of Emergency created due to COVID-19 will expire Friday and will not be renewed.

The Executive Order issuing the State of Emergency was initially issued due to COVID-19 on March 13th. The governor says the effectiveness of the vaccine, efforts to mitigate the virus, and the work of health professionals have created a situation whereby the state of emergency is no longer needed.

Governor Parson extended the COVID-19 related State of Emergency five times before issuing a final targeted executive order for health care needs in August 2021. Currently, only three of Missouri’s border states and 20 other states in the nation have state of emergencies related to COVID-19 in place.

At one time, nearly 600 statutory and regulatory waivers were approved across Missouri state government. Since that peak, waivers have reduced by nearly 80 percent. All remaining COVID-19 related waivers authorized under the Executive Order will terminate on December 31, 2021.

Agencies, boards, commissions, and departments are able to pursue rulemaking if permanent changes to regulations are needed after December 31 to improve long-term outcomes for Missourians, health care facilitates, and businesses. The General Assembly can also make any needed policy changes when they return for the 2022 legislative session on January 5.

The state has communicated to its health care partners that there will be flexibility during a transitional period to fully resume pre-pandemic operations.

The Governor announced 94 percent of Missourians 65 and older have received at least one dose. More than 73 percent of Missourians 18 and older and over 62 percent of all Missourians have chosen to initiate vaccination.