What to expect as the COVID emergency declaration ends

May 11, 2023

Federal officials declared a national Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, when the virus was spreading in several states. The emergency declaration relaxed some government rules and freed up funding to help agencies respond to the pandemic. 

Officials decided to end the emergency declaration this spring, citing improved COVID-19 trends. Washington state's emergency order ended last fall. 

While the emergency declarations are sunsetting, COVID-19 is still spreading in our area. Please keep taking steps to protect your health and the health of people around you. 

"The declaration of a public health emergency allowed us to fund and create new services to prevent, diagnose, and treat this serious infection for all people at no cost to the individual during the pandemic," Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Gib Morrow said. "It is bittersweet to see some of these measures end, but COVID is still with us, as are the lessons we have learned from it."

WHAT WILL CHANGE AFTER THE DECLARATION ENDS?

• 💉 COVID-19 vaccines will still be available at doctors offices and clinics. Vaccination will remain free while federal stockpiles last and will be fully covered by most insurance plans. Kitsap Public Health offers vaccine clinics in Bremerton each Wednesday and you can find more resources at vaccinatewa.org and vaccines.gov.
  
  
• 🧪 COVID-19 self tests will still be available at pharmacies and other stores. Healthcare providers will still administer tests. You may have to pay a fee for tests depending on your health insurance coverage. Free self-tests can still be ordered from Washington state's portal through May 11 and are available via covidtests.gov.
  
  
• 👩‍⚕️ COVID-19 treatments will still be available from healthcare providers. You may have to pay a fee for some treatments depending on your health insurance coverage.

Visit the CDC's website for more information about the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

IN WASHINGTON STATE... The state will end its free Say Yes! COVID Test program and its WA Notify COVID-19 reporting tool on May 11. Some data dashboards will no longer be updated. The Care Connect program, which provides assistance for people who need to stay home due to a positive COVID-19 test or exposure, will gradually be scaled back in May and June.

OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE...

• If you are covered by Apple Health (Medicaid) you will have to verify your eligibility each year. Learn more at hca.wa.gov.
  
  
• If you are a Basic Food (SNAP) recipient, you may receive less food assistance. You can find more food assistance information at foodfinder.us or by calling 2-1-1. 

TO FIND ONGOING COVID-19 UPDATES AND INFORMATION, VISIT:

• Kitsap Public Health District 
  • kitsappublichealth.org or 360-728-2235
• Washington State Department of Health
  • doh.wa.gov or 1-800-525-0127 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • cdc.gov/covid19 or 800-232-4636

CONTACTING THE HEALTH DISTRICT

• Call: 360-728-2235 and leave a message. Includes reporting notifiable conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Leave the patient’s name, date of birth and disease.
• Fax: 360-813-1168.

This update is also posted on our Provider Resources website, providers.kitsappublichealth.org.