Ohio's state of emergency will come to an end effective Friday.
Ohio will end its COVID-19 emergency declaration Friday.
Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine said he doesn't expect the end of the emergency declaration to impact the work to get Ohio out of the pandemic.
The state has already lifted nearly all health orders that were put into place in 2020.
DeWine said in Ohio, a state of emergency has very limited meaning.
“One of the things, for example, is in regard to procurement. In emergencies, you don’t have to go through the normal process. So, it’s time for that to end as well. That will be ending tomorrow.”
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.
DeWine declared the emergency on March 14, 2020, which allowed the state to suspend competitive bidding, draw down assistance, and make emergency rules, among other provisions.
On Thursday morning, State Representative Ron Ferguson spoke in support of a resolution to end COVID restrictions.
"I got my opportunity to give my first sponsor testimony, which is the resolution to rescind the health orders here in the state of Ohio," Ferguson said.
"We're going to open up and be fully open for business in the state. It's the No. 1 thing I've been trying to do since I got to the legislature. We've been clawing through mud to get there and the time is finally here."
DeWine also said that more than 54.76 percent of Ohioans over the age of 12 have been vaccinated. He continued to urge people to get vaccinated if they haven't done so yet.
Most of the state's health orders, including the state mask mandate, ended June 2.