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Nearly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared triggering lockdowns and restrictions, the light at the end of the tunnel is shining brightly.

Both California and San Diego County's coronavirus emergency declarations expired Tuesday, illustrating a turning point in the years-long battle against COVID-19. But the end of the emergency declaration isn’t just symbolic, it represents a shift in the way state and local officials will approach the pandemic.

What that means is the COVID-19 operations will shift from a full-blown emergency response to being handled by our local public health officials.

Mass vaccination and testing clinics will no longer be operating. Those efforts will instead be consolidated into the county's six main public health centers.

Additionally, health insurance companies won't have to fully cover COVID vaccines, testing, and therapeutics after Nov. 11.

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San Diego and California COVID-19 Emergency Declarations Expire Tuesday

NBC 7's Amber Frias explains what the end means for San Diego and California.

One local UCSD doctor says we need to turn the page on the emergency declaration, but he still has concerns, particularly on who will handle COVID treatment and vaccines.

"What does it mean in terms of the emergency use and other authorizations going away? It's just mostly about who pays for what. So, the government pays for most of our COVID things now, including testing and treatments and vaccinations and now it's gonna go back to our basically private health care system," said Davey Smith, M.D. and UCSD Chief of Infectious Diseases.

"I worry a lot around that because our private health care system doesn't do too well in terms of equity and equality for people. And what we know with infectious diseases, which we have always known, is that infectious disease hits the most vulnerable first. And those are often times people without private healthcare, backing and support," Smith added.

“Measures such as mask-wearing indoors or some restrictions of public gatherings in public spaces, or mandatory testing and, and such now have to go more through a sort of approval process," said Paul Schalch-Lepe, MD, FACS, otolaryngologist. "And you cannot enact them in short term.”

San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said we are in a good place with the virus.

"It’s not really gonna mean much for folks out there. I think that the last COVID-related restriction was lifted about a year and a half ago so folks living their life they wont notice anything different – I think it is an administrative function that serves as a symbolic kind of closing of a chapter," San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said.

The state says masks will still be required in high-risk settings such as hospitals and nursing homes.

“It's not that the COVID-19 infection is gonna go away, [that] we're never gonna hear about it again, it's just that now we've passed that threshold in terms of the number of cases and hospital admissions and things like that, that don't require us to have these emergency measures in place,” said Schalch-Lepe.

The County of San Diego said they would continue to respond to the ongoing pandemic by testing, treating and vaccinating. So far, 80% of San Diegans have received at least their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines but the county urges San Diegans to receive the Bivalent booster. Only about 22.9% of San Diegans have received those.

"Make no mistake, this is not the time to let your guard down. The virus is still circulating throughout the community. People are still being hospitalized and dying," Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said in a statement. "So protect yourself, your family and friends. We strongly urge people to get current with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including the bivalent booster.”

The end of the county's emergency declaration also means weekly updates on the coronavirus situation will end.

The coronavirus still infects nearly 3,000 people and kills an average of 20 every day in California. But more than ever, Dr. Shaulch-Lepe says the virus has become something we must live with.

“It's still out there and we shouldn't forget that but, of course, we've learned a lot,” said Schalch-Lepe. “We have now, not only vaccines but also treatments, you know, medications that can be prescribed and initiated whenever someone's developing severe symptoms.”

And while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Dr. Shalch-Lepe urges the community to stay up to date with their vaccinations and keep taking the necessary precautions.

“Those are common sense, easy measures that we can all follow to try to prevent this from spreading and becoming a bigger issue again,” said Schalch-Lepe.

Meanwhile, the nation’s COVID public emergency doesn't end until May.

No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs faces off against No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 24, 2023.

SAN DIEGO — The Aztecs are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and have won 11 of their last 13. Balanced scoring carried them to a second-round victory against Furman and they’ll need more of the same against the Crimson Tide, who handily dispatched Maryland in the second round. All-America freshman Brandon Miller, who is nursing an injury, had 19 after going scoreless in the first round.

Wondering what channel and what time the SDSU-Alabama game is on? Here are the details.

How to watch the game on TV

The No. 5 SDSU vs No. 1 Alabama NCAA Tournament basketball game airs live nationally Friday at 3:30 p.m. PST on TBS.

How to stream the game

Streaming is also available on the NCAA website or the NCAA March Madness Live app in the Apple store or Google Play store but a cable subscription may be required to watch. The game will also be aired across other streaming platforms including YouTube TV and Hulu.

How to listen to the game on the radio

You can listen to the game in San Diego on the radio on San Diego Sports 760.

Watch party with SDSU fans at Viejas Arena

Want to watch the game live and in-person with fellow Aztec fans? SDSU is hosting a watch party on Friday at Viejas Arena. The watch party is free, doors open at 2:30 p.m. and Viejas Arena's clear bag policy will be enforced.

If you're not making the trip to Louisville and looking for a place to watch Friday's game with fellow Aztec fans, look no further than @ViejasArena! Admission is FREE and we'll be putting the game up on the big screens! Doors open at 2:30 pm, clear bag policy will be in effect. pic.twitter.com/NQreAqXY1m

— San Diego State Men's Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) March 22, 2023

San Diego State is the first Mountain West Conference team to reach the Sweet 16 since Nevada in 2018. It'll be the third regional semifinal appearance for the Aztecs and the seventh for the Mountain West overall.

The Aztecs are 0-2 in Sweet 16 games. Coach Brian Dutcher feels this team is capable of going further.

“Now that we've settled into the rhythm, and we know what this is about, I think we'll play better moving forward,” the coach said. “And that's really encouraging moving into the Sweet 16.”

Alabama faces SDSU on Friday, a team making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2004, which was also the year of the Tide's only Elite Eight run. The Crimson Tide have never reached the Final Four.

“I know San Diego State’s defense is elite,” Coach Nate Oats said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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WATCH RELATED: SDSU fans and alumni ecstatic for the Aztecs to make it to Sweet 16 (March 2023).

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A pair of red-hot teams clash on Friday in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 South Region when the fifth-seeded San Diego State Aztecs battle the No. 1 seeded Alabama Crimson Tide. The Aztecs (29-6, 15-3 Mountain West), who won their conference tournament title, have won six games in a row. The Crimson Tide (31-5, 16-2 SEC), the SEC Tournament champion, are riding a five-game winning streak. San Diego State and Alabama are both making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. This is the Crimson Tide's second Sweet 16 appearance in three seasons, while the Aztecs had lost in the first round in each of the past two years.

The game from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Crimson Tide are favored by 7 points in the latest San Diego State vs. Alabama odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 137.5. (See up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page.)

Before making any San Diego State vs. Alabama picks, or NCAA Tournament selections, you need to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed the model has seen HUGE returns!

The model knows Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller has been playing well of late. He has scored in double figures in 26 of the past 27 games, including a 19-point performance in Saturday's second-round win over Maryland. In the SEC Tournament Championship Game win over Texas A&M, Miller scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. It was his second consecutive double-double and third in four games. He has nine double-doubles on the year. In 36 games, all starts, Miller is averaging 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and two assists in 32.7 minutes of action.

But the model also knows senior guard Matt Bradley is a big reason for the Aztecs' success this season. He leads the team in scoring, averaging 13 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.7 minutes. He has started all 35 games, and is connecting on 41.1% of his field goals, including 36.6% of his 3-pointers, and 79.8% of his free throws. He opened the tournament with a 17-point, seven-rebound and four-assist performance against Charleston, and then scored 10 points, grabbed three boards and had two assists in the second-round win over Furman.

Now, the model has set its sights on San Diego State vs. Alabama. We can tell you the model is leaning Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time! You ABSOLUTELY need to see the model before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins San Diego State vs. Alabama? And which side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the San Diego State vs. Alabama spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model on a roll on college basketball picks!

SAN DIEGO — Almost $6 million in narcotics were seized at San Diego port of entries last weekend in three major smuggling attempts, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

First seizure

The first seizure occurred on Friday around 10:20 a.m. when a 25-year-old woman who was in possession of a valid entry document was removed from her vehicle for further inspection. CBP said officers observed several packages concealed in her vehicle after a K-9 alerted to the trunk area.

CBP said officers scanned the vehicle utilizing the port’s imaging system, which is similar to an X-ray, and they noticed irregularities in the seats and floor. After further inspection of the vehicle, CBP said they found 33 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the seats, floor and firewall.

The total weight of the narcotics seizure was reported to be slightly more than 201 pounds. Officials did not confirm which port of entry this was at.

Second seizure

The second seizure occurred on Saturday around 6:11 a.m. at the Tecate Port of Entry when officers encountered three men applying for entry with valid legal permanent resident cards, CBP said. The occupants were aged 66, 57 and 56.

According to officials, the men were referred for further investigation and a CBP officer’s narcotics detector dog alerted to the center console. After a hands-on inspection, CBP said they discovered 80 packages containing fentanyl pills concealed in various areas of the vehicle.

The total weight of the narcotics seizure was reported to be nearly 175 pounds.

Third seizure

The third seizure occurred on Sunday around 6:50 a.m. when a vehicle and its two occupants, a 54-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, applied for entry by presenting valid SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) cards to CBP officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, officials said. They were also referred for further inspection.

During the inspection, officials say a narcotics detector dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. Further examination of the vehicle revealed four packages of fentanyl pills and three packages of fentanyl powder, CBP said.

The total weight of the narcotics seizure was reported to be about 18 pounds.

Result

CBP said officers seized all the narcotics and involved vehicles. All occupants were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , Homeland Security Investigations for further processing.

According to CBP, the three thwarted smuggling attempts had a combined estimated street value of over $5.7 million.

“These impressive drug seizures demonstrate that drug traffickers will continue to find ways to attempt to smuggle these dangerous narcotics into our communities,” said Sidney Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “Our frontline officers continue to maintain a robust enforcement posture and are successfully disrupting the flow of dangerous narcotics from entering our country.”

For the Padres, it’s been five weeks.

Five weeks of drills and exhibition games and guys coming and going from all over the world for the World Baseball Classic. That’s a long grind and in the middle things can get a little … well …

“It does get a little monotonous,” says starting pitcher Nick Martinez, finding the perfect word. “Waking up at the same time, doing to same thing every day. As you start to creep towards Opening Day that fire starts to burn again and I’d say that’s definitely what’s happening.”

When you get to that one week mark, a true tentpole in the preseason process, things change around a Major League ballclub. The intensity and excitement tick up just a few notches.

“It’s always nice to finally get to the point where you can count days,” says designated hitter Nelson Cruz, a veteran of 24 professional Spring Trainings. “The excitement that we feel in the clubhouse, and the fans are also on the same page, and we can’t wait to get to Petco.”

So, with just a handful of Cactus League games and a trip back to San Diego left, what exactly is the state of the San Diego Padres?

“I think everyone’s just excited that we’re all together,” says Martinez. “I think the morale has been high. I think we’re excited that we’re all together for these last few days and excited to get the season going. Kind of a weird year with a lot of us being in the Classic but it’s like we haven’t skipped a beat.”

Camaraderie is something this club built a ton of in 2022 and it hasn’t left, despite several new additions and extended absences.

“Yeah, you don’t lose it. I mean they’re gone for 10 days or so but to get them all back was nice, for sure,” says 1^st baseman Jake Cronenworth.

All of this, of course, is simply a means to an end. The Padres are among the betting favorites to win their first World Series championship and everyone in the clubhouse can feel this is a special group of talent. One week off from games that count, the expectations are being embraced.

“Out job’s not finished,” says closer Josh Hader. “What we had last year, we know what it takes to get there but we’ve still got a lot to do this year. We’re all excited about the guys we have together in this clubhouse and we know we have an opportunity to do a lot of special things.”

Now, it’s not all sunshine and puppy dogs. The Padres do have some concerns as the opener approaches. On the injury front, Joe Musgrove is still ahead of schedule in recovering from his fractured toe and amazingly catcher Austin Nola, who was hit in the face by a fastball on Sunday and suffered a broken nose, says he might be able to avoid the Injured List and start behind the plate on March 30 against the Rockies.

“I hope so,” says Nola, who shows no physical signs of being plunked other than a few stitches on the bridge of his nose. “I feel like I’m getting back into baseball stuff as quick as possible and really ramping it up.”

But, high-velocity reliever Drew Pomeranz has had another setback in his bid to return from a flexor tendon injury and is a longshot to be ready for the first game of the season. And then there’s Yu Darvish.

He’s been the Padres Opening Day starter the last two years and was the odds-on favorite to do it again. But, while winning the WBC with Japan he did not get as many innings under his belt as he usually does and admits to being concerned that he’s not built up as much as he usually is at this time of the year.

“(I’ll just) try to get back to what I usually do and see how I feel and just proceed from there,” says Darvish through an interpreter.

The good news for the Padres is their third option is probably Blake Snell, an All-Star and 2018 Cy Young Award winner. He’d be the first choice for most clubs so while the Padres would rather not test their depth the first week of the year, it’s nice that they have enough talent to do it and still win.

LISTEN: With NBC 7 San Diego's Darnay Tripp and Derek Togerson behind the mic, On Friar will cover all things San Diego Padres. Interviews, analysis, behind-the-scenes...the ups, downs, and everything in between. Tap here to find On Friar wherever you listen to podcasts.