California unveils plan to become first state to treat COVID-19 as ‘endemic’ risk

Governor Gavin Newson (D) announced on Thursday a new plan that would focus on COVID-19 prevention and quickly address outbreaks, rather than utilizing mandated masking and business shutdowns.

According to US News, this marks the beginning of a long process of returning to a more normal existence. Newson said, “We are moving past the crisis phase into a phase where we will work to live with this virus.” He has repeatedly promised his constituents safety throughout the pandemic.

A disease officially reaches the endemic stage when despite a virus’s existence in a community, it becomes manageable. Newsom has said, “This pandemic won’t have a defined end. There’s no finish line.”

Covid was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As resurgences fade, many parts of the world are preparing to treat Covid as an endemic, but California will be the first to enact anything. However, the executive emergency orders that have been in place will not be lifted any time soon.

State GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson called his efforts “an extra-large helping of word salad” and called on him to “follow the lead of other blue states and end his state of emergency to lift his school mask mandate.”

Newsom’s plan consists of stockpiling masks, providing up to 200,000 vaccinations and more tests. Additionally, his goal is to add medical workers to surging areas.