Topline
The Biden administration will allow the ongoing Covid-19 emergency declarations to end on May 11, the White House announced on Monday, as part of a wider pivot to treat the coronavirus as an endemic seasonal threat coming less than a week after the FDA proposed an overhaul of its vaccination strategy to do the same.
People wear mask after New York City’s health officials have issued an advisory, strongly urging New … [+]
Key Facts
A Covid-19 national emergency and public health emergency went into effect in 2020 under former President Donald Trump’s Administration and have since been extended multiple times by President Joe Biden allowing for wide access to free vaccines, tests and treatments.
The national emergency was set to expire on March 1 while the health emergency was set to end on April 11, however, the White House decided to extend both till May 11 before ending them.
In an administration policy statement, the Office of Management and Budget said the emergency is being kept in place till May as an abrupt end would lead to “wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system.”
The White House’s declaration comes just a day before the Republican-controlled House is set to vote on a bill called the “Pandemic Is Over Act” seeking to immediately end the public health emergency.
What To Watch For
The costs of tests, vaccines and treatments are likely to rise sharply once the government ends the dual emergency declarations. In an investor call last year, Pfizer indicated it plans to charge between $110-130 per dose for its Covid-19 vaccines.
Big Number
3,756. That is the total number of Americans who died from Covid-19 in the week ending on January 25, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC). This highlights that Covid-19 continues to remain a deadly disease killing on average more than 500 people every day. In total Covid-19 has killed more than 1.1 million people in the U.S.
Section Title
President Biden to end COVID-19 emergencies on May 11 (Associated Press)
U.S. Plans to End Public Health Emergency for Covid in May (New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/01/31/biden-administration-will-end-covid-19-emergency-declarations-on-may-11/