PRESS RELEASE
WHEREAS: Executive Order No. 20-11 was effective as of March 30, 2020, which created the Arkansas Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Steering Committee;
WHEREAS: Executive Order No. 20-17 was effective as of April 13, 2020, which created the Governor's Medical Advisory Committee for Post-Peak COVID-19 Response;
WHEREAS: Executive Order No. 20-21 was effective as of April 21, 2020, which created the Governor’s COVID-19 Testing Advisory Group;
WHEREAS: Executive Order No. 20-28 was effective as of May 26, 2020, which created the Governor’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Board;
WHEREAS: Executive Order No. 20-50 was effective as of November 13, 2020, which created the Governor’s COVID-19 Winter Task Force;
WHEREAS: In an appearance on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on September 18, 2022, President Joe Biden said the “pandemic is over;”
WHEREAS: The first case of COVID-19 was identified more than three years ago, and it is time for Arkansas—and America—to get back to normal; and
WHEREAS: It is the position of this administration to begin prioritizing and promoting other public health challenges.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, acting under the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby order the following:
Executive Order No. 20-11 is hereby repealed.
Executive Order No. 20-17 is hereby repealed.
Executive Order No. 20-21 is hereby repealed.
Executive Order No. 20-28 is hereby repealed.
Executive Order No. 20-50 is hereby repealed.
The Arkansas Department of Health shall establish a process of prioritizing and promoting other public health challenges.
Upon request and in accord with Arkansas law, the Arkansas Department of Health shall make available COVID-19 reports and information readily available and in the Department’s possession.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, acting under the authority vested in me as the Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby order the following:
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 13th day of January, in the year of our Lord 2023.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Today, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following statement after signing an executive order to repeal COVID-19 executive orders:
"Today, I signed an Executive Order that terminates five existing Executive Orders on COVID-19 that are obsolete. I also directed our government to prioritize and promote other pressing public health challenges. Unfortunately, government has prioritized COVID-19 disproportionally and allowed other health concerns like addiction, cancer screenings, diabetes, and mental health to worsen. As Governor, I will always put the health, safety, and well-being of Arkansans first. President Biden declared the ‘pandemic is over’ during an appearance on ‘60 minutes’ last year. I promised that when I was elected governor, Arkansas would not have mask mandates or vaccine mandates and we would not shut down churches and schools because we believe in personal freedom and responsibility. The first case of COVID-19 was identified more than three years ago, and it is time for Arkansas – and America – to get back to normal."