U.S. Plans to End Public Health Emergency for Covid in May
New York TimesJan 31, 2023
The Facts
US Pres. Biden on Monday announced to Congress that his admin. will end the national and public COVID health emergencies on May 11, as most of the world has moved to or towards normalcy almost three years after the pandemic was declared.
Biden's announcement comes amidst resolutions put forward by House Republicans to bring the emergencies to an immediate end and launch investigations into the federal government’s response to the virus. In contrast, the Office of Management and Budget has said an "abrupt end" would cause "wide-ranging chaos" within the healthcare system.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Though it was not always clear what the right answer was at the time, the US has managed to persevere through the pandemic, and the decision to officially end these emergencies will soon become necessary. COVID has not disappeared by any means, which is why Biden is giving healthcare facilities months to prepare.
Republican narrative
Though it is much appreciated that the government will finally declare the pandemic over, this move should have been made far earlier as opposed to waiting another third of a year. The Biden admin. is still unable to get a clear message out about COVID — having previously said it's over before backtracking. Biden's move to end Title 42 will likely exacerbate the southern border crises even more. The administration's COVID policies have been dysfunctional and harmful.
