MA Ending COVID-19 Health Emergency, Including Some Vaccine Mandates

BOSTON, MA — COVID-19 is here to stay, but the public health emergency over the virus will end in May.

Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday said the state will end the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, the same day the federal government's emergency will end.

That doesn't mean the virus is gone, just that certain benefits will go away, including expanded MassHealth access and testing services. Healey will also rescind an executive order issued by former governor Charlie Baker requiring executive branch employees — including state police — to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.

"We know that we have the tools to manage this virus — vaccines, masking, testing, getting treatments and staying home when sick — and we’ve reached the point where we can update our guidance to reflect where we are now," Healey said in a news release.

At the same time, Healey will ask state lawmakers to extend COVID-era provisions, including:

• Allowing dialysis centers to keep COVID-era staffing in place for six months
• Allow non-Medication Administration Program certified staff to continue administering medications, like coronavirus vaccines, for six months
• Allow staffing levels in ambulances to remain at a single EMT a driver to remain permanently, a reduction from the two-EMT requirement before the pandemic

Since the pandemic hit Massachusetts three years ago, over 2 million residents have contracted the virus, and more than 22,000 have died, according to the latest state data.

Health officials say COVID-19 is now endemic, which means it is a virus humans will have to live with similar to the flu, chicken pox and cold viruses.