Gov. Mike DeWine: Ohio to end COVID-19 emergency declaration Friday

Ohio will end its COVID-19 emergency declaration Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday.

Ohioans continue to die from COVID-19, DeWine said, but cases and hospitalizations have continued to decline.

DeWine said the emergency declaration was narrowly focused; he doesn’t expect its end to impact work to get Ohio out of the pandemic.

“We’ve come to the conclusion it really does not impact what we need to do in this pandemic based on this point in the pandemic,” DeWine said.

DeWine declared the emergency March 14, 2020, which allowed the state to suspend competitive bidding, draw down assistance and make emergency rules, among other provisions.

DeWine said state requirements on visits to nursing homes, such as limiting the number of visitors, will also be lifted Friday. Unvaccinated nursing home employees will continue to be tested twice a week.

Most of the state's health orders, including the state mask mandate, ended June 2.

This story will be updated.

Jackie Borchardt is the bureau chief for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.