The Biden administration has informed Congress of its plan to end the COVID-19 related emergency declarations on May 11th. The declarations, declared by the previous administration in 2020, have given the federal government wide-ranging authority to expand healthcare services and hasten the authorization of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. The Office of Management and Budget stated that the end of the emergency declarations will have no impact on individuals' behavior with respect to COVID-19 and will not impose restrictions such as mask mandates, vaccine mandates, or restrictions on schools and businesses.
As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decline in the US, the Biden administration has shifted its focus, reducing its messaging on COVID-19 and promoting booster shots. However, the rollout of the updated shots has been slow, with only about 15% of the US population having taken the new shot.
The World Health Organization, on the other hand, declared that COVID-19 remains a global public health emergency of concern, as global coronavirus deaths continue to rise. The organization believes the world is at a transition point, and it remains hopeful that in the coming year, the world will see a reduction in hospitalizations and deaths, and health systems will be able to manage COVID-19 in a sustainable manner.
