President Biden announced last week that he would wind down the COVID-19 public health and national emergencies on May 11. A day later, the House voted on party lines to end the emergencies immediately.
The action is long overdue. It’s past time to end these emergencies. They’ve become little more than excuses to funnel taxpayer dollars to politically favored institutions and groups.
When then-President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in March 2020, our pandemic response playbook looked very different than it does now. Back then, there were no vaccines or treatments for the virus.
Today, more than 80% of Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine. Most people infected with COVID-19 these days develop mild symptoms. For those at risk of severe illness, several treatments are widely available.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Past time to end COVID-19 emergencies
Sally C. Pipes
President Biden announced last week that he would wind down the COVID-19 public health and national emergencies on May 11. A day later, the House voted on party lines to end the emergencies immediately.
The action is long overdue. It’s past time to end these emergencies. They’ve become little more than excuses to funnel taxpayer dollars to politically favored institutions and groups.
When then-President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in March 2020, our pandemic response playbook looked very different than it does now. Back then, there were no vaccines or treatments for the virus.
Today, more than 80% of Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine. Most people infected with COVID-19 these days develop mild symptoms. For those at risk of severe illness, several treatments are widely available.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.