MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US: Biden signs bill ending Covid-19 emergency

The Biden administration initially opposed ending the emergency declarations earlyccc

US President Joseph Biden Monday signed into law a bill officially ending the Covid-19 crisis by May 11, this year, thus lifting the current national emergency and public health emergency declarations enacted by former President Donald Trump in 2020, it was announced in Washington DC.

The emergency measures allowed the federal government to allocate funds to support local government efforts to combat the pandemic, among other actions.

The new bill, sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., terminates the national emergency declared by Trump on March 13, 2020, and a public health emergency issued that January.

Biden had previously planned to end the national and public health emergencies on May 11, making that announcement in January.

The Biden administration initially opposed ending the emergency declarations early, citing “significant impacts” on the government and healthcare system.

Healthcare facilities were granted waivers under the public-health declaration, giving them flexibility over patient care and capacity limits, while telehealth will remain unaffected, as will access to vaccines and treatments, it was reported.