This emergency proclamation is aimed at easing burdens on health care providers and making government more responsive.

 

Easing burdens on healthcare providers: The proclamation will relax regulatory burdens to allow expanded capacity in healthcare facilities, additional liability protections, increased authority for frontline health care personnel and easier shipment of emergency equipment and supplies.

 

Making government more responsive: The proclamation will enable government, at all levels, to adapt to the COVID-19 surge. For example, one provision will allow expedited purchases of emergency-related equipment, while another will allow governmental bodies to meet remotely, subject to transparency rules.

 

The limited, narrowly-focused state of emergency is effective immediately and is NOT accompanied by a public health order.