The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday confirmed it has extended the federal COVID-19 state of emergency.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a declaration, saying that “after consultation with public health officials as necessary,” the administration decide to renew the emergency declaration that was first issued in early 2020 under the Trump administration. Including Wednesday’s declaration, the federal emergency has been renewed about a dozen times since then.
“The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency remains in effect, and as HHS committed to earlier, we will provide a 60-day notice to states before any possible termination or expiration,” a spokesperson for HHS told news outlets on Wednesday….