US ending Covid emergency programs on May 11

Robert Besser
05 Feb 2023, 02:06 GMT+10

The Biden administration said this week that it will end US COVID-19 emergency declarations on 11th May, nearly three years after strict measures to curb the spread of the pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency were adopted by then-President Donald Trump, but President Joe Biden has repeatedly extended the measures
In a statement, the White House Office of Management and Budget said that the declarations would be extended again until 11th May and then cancelled

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration said this week that it will end US COVID-19 emergency declarations on 11th May, nearly three years after strict measures to curb the spread of the pandemic were implemented in the US.

In 2020, the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency were adopted by then-President Donald Trump, but President Joe Biden has repeatedly extended the measures, which provide free tests, vaccines and treatments to millions of Americans.

In a statement, the White House Office of Management and Budget said that the declarations would be extended again until 11th May and then cancelled.

"This wind-down would align with the Administration's previous commitments to give at least 60 days' notice prior to termination of the public health emergency," the Office of Management and Budget said.

After the public health emergency expires, the costs of COVID-19 vaccines, some tests and certain treatments will be transferred from the government to private insurance and government health plans.

In a separate statement, the Office of Management and Budget said that Biden will veto a proposed bill in the US Congress that will end COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare providers working on certain federal programs.