The omicron variant of COVID-19 is sweeping through the U.S., but Pennsylvania’s legislators have said not to expect a return of lockdowns or sweeping mandates.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced his administration has no plans to declare another emergency — not that Pennsylvania legislators would allow it, said state Rep. Martin Causer, T-Turtlepoint.

“I do not support any additional lockdown or restrictions and I do not see any of that happening again,” Causer said.

However, on Tuesday, State Rep. Napoleon Nelson, D-Glendale, released a letter asking for Wolf to declare an emergency because of omicron.

“It is time for Gov. Tom Wolf to declare a state of emergency to address the presently dominant omicron variant and its impact on our school and health care capacity,” Nelson wrote. “Maryland has done so. Delaware has done so. Several counties here in Pennsylvania have done so.”

He asked for an emergency declaration “with the narrow focus of supporting our education and health institution capacity” while infection rates are high.

Yet Causer said the “one size fits all” approach at the beginning of the pandemic didn’t work, and the voters have made sure it won’t happen again by approving a Constitutional amendment curbing the governor’s power.

“The legislature has the ability to terminate any of those declarations,” he said.

Causer said there are tools to fight COVID now, including vaccines and social distancing. “We’re in a different place than we were early in the pandemic.”