By Rory Zeman

National/World Editor

On Feb. 28, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the official end of California’s three-year-long state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Newsom initiated the state of emergency in 2020, there were only 53 known cases in California. Since then, COVID-19 has infected over 12 million people and killed over 100,000 statewide. However, the declaration allowed Newsom to better prepare California for the spread of the virus because he could take preventative measures such as shutting down certain businesses, mandating vaccines for certain places, requiring masks indoors, and redirecting state funds to the relief effort. The end of the state of emergency marks a symbolic change to California’s multi-year struggle with the virus, but cases could still rise if new variants propagate.

(Sources: ABC, LA Times)