With the ending of the state's COVID-19 mandated health guidelines Wednesday, Highland County Board of Commissioners President Jeff Duncan announced yesterday the end of a state of emergency declared in the county over 400 days ago after the coronavirus pandemic forced the declaration to be made. The state of emergency originally declared on March 18, 2020, would end immediately. In line with the declaration of the end of the state of emergency, commissioners issued a proclamation that saluted essential workers who remained on the job throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.