Should the COVID Emergency be Ending Now or has it been Overdue?
What’s the update?
President Biden has made an announcement that the national emergencies, which have been instrumental in the federal government’s response to the pandemic, will end on May 11. While the symbolic weight of the declarations of emergency was significant, their most important effect was granting the government expanded powers to undertake actions it could not have done under normal circumstances. These actions included vaccine development, mask mandates, health coverage expansion, telehealth, hospital procedures updates, no-cost COVID testing and treatment, and the controversial Title 42 immigration policy.
Biden’s announcement came after House Republicans released a plan to pass legislation that would have terminated the emergencies immediately, but those bills were unlikely to be signed into law. Despite the gradual phasing out of significant components of the federal pandemic response, the end of the emergency declarations will have a noticeable impact. Vaccines, testing, and treatment, which have been free for the past three years, may incur additional costs, especially for the uninsured. The shipment of free at-home COVID tests will cease, as will the extra funding that has assisted hospitals in covering the expenses of treating COVID patients.
One of the most crucial policies that resulted from the emergency declarations, the prohibition of states from removing people from Medicaid, will end in April as a result of a provision approved by Congress at the end of last year. Approximately 15 million individuals, including nearly 7 million who are still eligible for the program but may fall through the bureaucratic cracks, are expected to lose Medicaid coverage when this occurs.
Why there’s discussion?
Biden’s choice to terminate the emergencies has received mixed reactions from public health experts. While many believe it represents a vital shift in acknowledging the coronavirus as an endemic health threat rather than an immediate crisis, others are critical of the decision. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was the face of the government’s pandemic response, stated that “everyone wants to move on,” a sentiment shared by many.
Conservatives have mostly welcomed the move, claiming that the Biden administration has been using emergency powers to force unpopular policies on Americans for too long. Some even believe that the emergency should end immediately, disregarding Biden’s warning that doing so could create “wide-ranging chaos” in the healthcare system.
However, critics of the decision argue that COVID remains an emergency, with an average of 500 deaths each day. They contend that reducing support for testing, vaccinations, and treatment will leave Americans, particularly those at greatest risk, vulnerable to life-threatening infections, and undermine the country’s ability to contain any future outbreaks caused by new variants of the virus.
What Comes Next The conclusion of the public health emergency could potentially have an impact on current legal disputes regarding pandemic-related immigration restrictions and Biden’s student loan forgiveness proposal. These issues are being reviewed by the Supreme Court, and it remains to be seen how the decision to end the emergency could impact the justices’ rulings.
Opinions SUPPORTERS
The country needs to shift to a long-term COVID strategy for a sustained effort.
“The COVID pandemic has become endemic, and we must shift our focus to managing its effects, especially protecting those who are still vulnerable to severe outcomes from the virus.” – Leana S. Wen, The Washington Post.
The emergency has been used as an excuse for overreach by the administration.
“I don’t think President Biden actually believes we are still in a state of emergency. However, the extra powers granted by the national emergency declaration have given the executive branch broader control over our lives, and the administration is striving hard to maintain this authority.” – Ingrid Jacques, USA Today.
The emergencies must end now, not in May.
“Congress should ignore the administration’s warnings about ending the emergency declarations immediately and unnecessary COVID restrictions.” – Drew Keyes, National Review.
The emergency cannot last forever, and there will never be a perfect time to end it.
“Ending the Public Health Emergency is going to create some challenges (particularly viz vaccine/drug pricing). But it has to happen at some point, and May (giving us 3 months to prepare) seems as good a time as any.” – Bob Wachter, Chair of the University of California San Francisco Department of Medicine.
Biden made the right choice, but there are real risks if the wind-down is poorly managed.
“The public has moved on and Biden is right to formally end it. It’ll have profound implications for vaccines, treatments & public messaging. Unraveling powers & funding will be daunting.” – Lawrence Gostin, health law expert.
CRITICS
The COVID health crisis is far from over.
“I understand the political/financial pressures behind this, but at 500 deaths/day, COVID remains a devastating public health threat… Could we see a new variant from China? And what about the immunocompromised? There is still much happening.” – Dr. Peter Hotez, vaccine scientist.
The end of the emergencies will mean Americans will be at the mercy of our failing healthcare system once again.
“American healthcare is, like everything else, returning to normal, which means that some people will find it more difficult to obtain the healthcare they require.” – Dylan Scott, Vox.
Officially declaring the emergency over could send a harmful message to Americans.
“This type of declaration ending does carry symbolic weight. And thus, people will say, ‘Great, I don’t have to worry anymore.’ And I believe it will be a little challenging to manage, and it’ll be up to public health officials and those of us working in this to still convey that this isn’t completely over.” – Jen Kates, Senior Vice President of the Kaiser Family Foundation, to NPR.
There aren’t sufficient resources in place to justify ending the emergency for medically vulnerable individuals.
“What policies have been put in place to protect the most vulnerable? What progress has been made in paid sick/family leave/insurance? What have policymakers learned to ensure this never happens again? Yet, the public health emergency will come to an end.” – Dr. Uché Blackstock, Public Health Expert.