Biden Ends COVID National Emergency After Congress Acts

Written by ZEKE MILLER

The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency.

The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency — it underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border — is set to expire on May 11.

The White House issued a one-line statement Monday saying Biden had signed the measure behind closed doors, after having publicly opposed the resolution though not to the point of issuing a veto. More than 197 Democrats in the House voted against it when the GOP-controlled chamber passed it in February. Last month, as the measure passed the Senate by a 68-23 vote, Biden let lawmakers know he would sign it.

The administration said once it became clear that Congress was moving to speed up the end of the national emergency it worked to expedite agency preparations for a return to normal procedures. Among the changes: The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s COVID-19 mortgage forbearance program is set to end at the end of May, and the Department of Veterans Affairs is now returning to a requirement for in-home visits to determine eligibility for caregiver assistance.

Legislators last year did extend for another two years telehealth flexibilities that were introduced as COVID-19 hit, leading health care systems around the country to regularly deliver care by smartphone or computer.

More than 1.13 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 over the last three years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 1,773 people in the week ending April 5.

Then-President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar first declared a public health emergency on Jan. 31, 2020, and Trump declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency that March. The emergencies have been repeatedly extended by Biden since he took office in January 2021, and he broadened the use of emergency powers after entering the White House.

Photo via AP Photo/Andrew Harnik.

‹

Duke Expert: If COVID Vaccine Boosters Come This Month, Low-Risk Public Should Wait

In mid-August the FDA approved a third round of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for immunocompromised peoples. Now, President Joe Biden wants all Americans to be eligible for a booster shot the week of September 20 – with healthcare workers and nursing home residents first in line.

UNC, Duke Health To Require Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations by September

UNC Health, alongside other state healthcare systems, has announced that it will make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all staff. According to a UNC Health statement, all staff must receive their vaccine by Tuesday, September 21. The message said the main goal of these mandatory COVID vaccinations is to “protect the health and safety of our […]

UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed Prioritizing or Rescheduling Non-Critical Procedures

UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed shared a joint statement on Wednesday saying all three are prioritizing and rescheduling non-critical surgeries, procedures and appointments. The three health systems made the announcement as they shift to conserve important clinical resources during the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak. The move also helps protect patients and medical professionals as […]

UNC Hospitals Begins Visitor Restrictions Based on Rise of Respiratory Illnesses

The UNC Hospitals campuses in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough began visitor restrictions on Monday as respiratory illnesses tick up.

5 Things We Know and Still Don’t Know About COVID, 5 Years After It Appeared

COVID-19 is less deadly than it was in the pandemic’s early days. But the virus is evolving, meaning scientists must track it closely.

Nearly 10,000 Died From COVID-19 Last Month, Fueled by Holiday Gatherings and New Variant, WHO Says

The head of the U.N. health agency said holiday gatherings and global spread led to increased transmission of COVID-19 last month.

UNC Health Tightens Rules on Children, Sick Visitors Over Respiratory Infection Risks

Starting on Tuesday morning, UNC Health locations in Orange and Chatham counties will have temporary restrictions on young visitors.

Duke Health Experts Share Concerns Over North Carolina's Abortion Bill

The Republican-led General Assembly passed new abortion restrictions in North Carolina on Thursday. While Governor Roy Cooper has said he’ll veto the measure, many medical experts and abortion rights advocates shared their opposition and concerns. That included a pair of Duke Health professionals, who spoke with the media Thursday to detail their expectations […]

On Air Today: 'Let the Healing Continue' with Mignon Hooper

Piedmont Health's Mignon Hooper discusses anxiety: as we ease back into the world, how do we manage the difficult feelings that generates?

Biden Ends COVID National Emergency After Congress Acts

Written by ZEKE MILLER The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping […]

›