Welch Applauds Healthcare Heroes, Codifies Health Delivery Innovations as COVID Orders End

SPRINGFIELD | Healthcare workers and state leaders joined to recognize the end of the state and federal COVID emergency declarations, while also continuing effective reforms initiated under the pandemic orders to streamline and expand delivery of care.

“As the COVID emergency orders end, we recognize first and foremost the lives lost during a tragic time in our history. We also applaud the nurses, doctors, hospital staff, emergency responders, and essential workers who faced risks to bring us through difficult times. We’ve come a long way from the days of social distancing and mandatory masking, and that is thanks to our healthcare heroes and the work they did every day,” House Speaker Emanuel Welch said.

“Many of the innovations we relied on during the emergency to deliver care have become valuable additions to our daily lives. So as we move forward, we are also taking action to maintain access to telehealth options, make sure pharmacies can deliver important vaccines, and help providers continue to care for their patients,” Welch added.

Welch joined Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, and other state leaders at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health Thursday to recognize the efforts healthcare workers put in throughout the COVID emergency. Pritzker signed a proclamation recognizing the end of the state and federal orders.