Gov Roy Cooper lifts statewide emergency order

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at the state’s National Guard headquarters in Raleigh. Photo via N.C. DPS

RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper officially lifted North Carolina’s COVID-19 State of Emergency on Monday after 888 days.

In a statement from the governor’s office, Cooper cites that with vaccines, treatments, and other tools to combat COVID-19 widely available and with legislation providing the requested flexibility to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and health care providers to continue to respond, the state is poised to continue comprehensive pandemic response without the need of the order.

“The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our state and people now have the knowledge and the tools like vaccines, boosters and therapeutic treatments to keep them safe,” said Gov. Cooper in a statement. “Executive orders issued under the State of Emergency protected public health and helped us save lives and livelihoods. North Carolina is emerging even stronger than before and my administration will continue to work to protect the health and safety of our people.”

“COVID-19 is still with us, and North Carolinians now have multiple ways to manage the virus, so it doesn’t manage us,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley.

The full order can be read here.

This is a developing story and will be updated.