Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced another extension of the COVID state of emergency:
“As a result of the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective January 11, 2023, the January 31, 2020, determination by former Secretary Alex M. Azar II, that he previously renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, and that I renewed on April 15, 2021, July 19, 2021, October 15, 2021, January 14, 2022, April 12, 2022, July 15, 2022, and October 13, 2022, that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide.”
I thought the pandemic ended, Brandon.
The government has extended the state of emergency every 90 days since President Donald Trump issued it in January 2020.
The state of emergency “has protected public health insurance coverage for millions, provided hospitals with greater flexibility to respond to patient surges and expanded telehealth.”
I’m grateful for the latter. The drive to some checkups lasts longer than the checkup. Doctor: “Medicine still working?” Me: “Yup.” Doctor: “No concerns?” Me: “Nope.” Doctor: “Okay see you again in three months.”
Also, I know when I have a sinus infection. Easier to do telehealth with the walk-in clinic.
Anyway, I wonder if an outside force is pressuring the Biden administration to keep renewing the state of emergency.
In August, Becerra told officials “to start preparing for an end to the emergency in the near future.”
Then Biden made his “pandemic is over” declaration in September.
But man, that power is something, isn’t it, Becerra? In October, he said depending “what the virus does this winter would determine whether or not the emergency needs to continue.”
Gotta stay vague. That way, you can keep extending the state of emergency. Everyone is freaking out about Omicron XBB.1.5. They’re also finally freaking out about the flu, which is horrible every year.
Here is Becerra from three months ago:
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