Orange County no longer under coronavirus state of emergency

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — After 15 months, Orange County is no longer under a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings made the announcement during the annual State of the County address on Friday.

READ: FHP: Woman killed in hit-and-run crash while walking her dog near busy Orange County road

Demings originally declared the state of emergency on March 13, 2020, back when records still showed no reported cases of the virus in the county.

As of June 3, Orange County has reported 143,198 cases of the virus and 1,310 virus-related deaths.

READ: Biden announces ‘get a shot, get a beer’ vaccine incentive

Demings also announced on Friday that he will be re-launching the transportation sales tax initiative soon, which has to go on the general election ballot.

Demings halted the plan during the pandemic but said if the transportation infrastructure needs aren’t addressed soon it will be too late.

Also on that ballot in 2022 will be Demings himself, running for reelection.