U.S. COVID emergency declarations to end in May

President Joe Biden on Monday extended the national and public health emergencies related to COVID-19 for what he said would be the last time. The emergencies are now set to end on May 11, more than three years after they were declared. Biden’s decision was included in a statement from the White House opposing two measures introduced by House Republicans that would end the emergencies immediately.

What will happen when the emergency declarations end? The federal government will transfer payment for coronavirus vaccines, tests, and certain treatments to private insurance and government health plans. It remains unclear if Title 42—the public health order that allows immigration authorities to expel immigrants before they can ask for asylum—will end with the public health emergency or if the border policy will remain in place. The Supreme Court in December extended Title 42 and in February will hear arguments on whether a coalition of 19 states can challenge the lower-court ruling that ordered the policy be lifted. 

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about the legal fallout from COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.