On May 11, 2023, the Governor of Puerto Rico issued the Executive Order No. OE-2023-012 to end the state of emergency declared for Puerto Rico on March 12, 2020 (OE-2020-20).  The new OE orders all agencies and municipalities to deactivate any special procedure established to respond to the state of emergency.  However, it clarifies that the Secretary of the Department of Health will retain the faculty to issue regulation, directives administrative orders and circular letters, protocols and recommendations regarding the COVID-19 illness.    

As a consequence of this new OE-2023-012, this marks the end of the applicability of the special emergency leave of five (5) paid days created by Law 37-2020.  The law will continue in effect but the special leave will only activate if the Governor or the Secretary of Health declare another state of emergency motivated by some other illness or epidemic in the future.  

On May 12, 2023, the Secretary of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2023-571 adopting the mandate of the OE-2023-013 and eliminating the mandatory use of face masks in public and private health facilities.

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