US Extends COVID Public Health Emergency

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Facts

  • On Thursday, the Biden admin. extended the COVID public health emergency through Jan. 11. The move comes after Pres. Biden declared the pandemic "over" last month during an interview, though officials are warning of a possible surge in cases over the winter.
  • The public health emergency — first declared by former Pres. Trump in January 2020 and since renewed every 90 days — expanded Medicaid to those who would otherwise be ineligible, opened telehealth, or remote, services to Medicaid, and enabled emergency authorization of vaccines.
  • The extension comes as some public health officials urge everyone aged 5 and older to get an updated vaccine booster for the Omicron variant, while Biden is requesting billions more in funding for vaccine and test distribution.
  • Infections have dropped significantly since the peak Omicron surge this past January, but more than 300 deaths and 3.5k hospitalizations are reportedly still occurring daily. White House COVID Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said 70% of those dying are 75 and older, with most of them unvaccinated or not receiving treatments, such as Paxlovid.
  • The emergency declaration has also allowed the Dept. of Health and Human Services to override state laws concerning the age groups to which pharmacies are allowed to administer vaccines, though it's unknown whether this will continue.
  • Previously, the Biden admin. has said that it will inform states at least 60 days in advance if it will be terminating the emergency declaration.

Sources: Washington Times, Abc, Associated Press, CNBC, and Washington Examiner.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by CEI. Biden declared the pandemic over, yet his admin. continues to abuse the emergency declaration — renewed 11 times — allowing the government to bloat its budget, stifle private insurance competition, and steal public health policy power away from the states. This government overreach must end, and federal emergency laws must be reconsidered.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Politico. COVID isn’t done with us, and the steady flow of cases and deaths proves it. Extending the emergency declaration keeps millions of potential COVID patients on Medicaid so doctors can treat them more easily. The order also allows Congress to provide funds needed for vaccines, tests, and other important COVID-related resources more easily. This is a logical option.

Predictions