Though President Biden declared the COVID pandemic “over” in September and the administration continues to allow for unprecedented numbers of undocumented and unvaccinated immigrants to cross the southern border, the White House’s Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday the extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra made the announcement, referring to a new department document titled, “Renewal of Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists.”
The full text of the declaration reads:
“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.”
Many across social media channels point to the administration’s mixed messaging on COVID. This week, the Pentagon announced it was discontinuing its vaccine mandates for service personnel.
As The Daily Wire reported:
The announcement extends the public health emergency into April, marking the twelfth extension since it was first set in place by then-President Donald Trump in 2020, allowing millions of Americans to remain eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Millions of Americans could lose health insurance under Medicaid when the extension expires. Enrollment has increased by an additional 24 million Americans since the start of the policy. The Daily Wire previously reported that Medicaid enrollment is expected to hit the 100 million mark soon, according to a recent report.
The renewal occurs as subvariant XBB.1.5 comprises more than 70% of COVID cases in the Northeast and 28% nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of January 4, an average of 67,000 daily positive cases were recorded, with 390 COVID-related daily deaths.
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