The Covid-19 public health emergency in the US will end on Thursday, marking a major transition from the pandemic that killed at least 1.1 million people in the country, the most recorded for any nation.
The policy change Covid will now be treated as a respiratory virus among the many that spread nationally.
"We're not out of the pandemic, we’re certainly in a different place," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. "And that’s because of what this President has been able to do.
"When you think about how Covid deaths have declined by 95 per cent, new Covid-19 hospitalisations are down nearly 88 per cent, and Covid-19 cases and deaths globally are at its lowest levels since the start of the pandemic."
The public health emergency was declared under then president Donald Trump's administration in January 2020.
Since then, the US recorded more than 100 million infections and a recession through political and societal turmoil.
Then there was a historic mass vaccination campaign with approval in record speed, but lagging acceptance compared to countries of similar wealth.
President Joe Biden oversaw an economic recovery of sorts with record-high inflation and low unemployment.
The World Health Organisation ended its public health emergency of international concern for Covid-19 last week, but said the virus continued to be a formidable threat.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention still records more than 75,000 cases of Covid-19 — probably an undercount because of less testing — and 1,100 deaths from it each week.
It is the fourth leading cause of death in the country.
Mr Biden's administration first opposed Congressional efforts to end the emergency, calling the move a "great disservice to the American people".
But the President signed a resolution formally ending the health crisis response last month.
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Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari poses for pictures in front of 'The Hero Monument' heart sculpture on October 25, 2021, in New York. AP -
The Washington Monument where US President Joe Biden hosts a memorial to honour those who died from Covid-19 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 19, 2021. Reuters -
A woman takes selfies with her daughter in front of 'The Hero Monument' in New York. AP -
Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari stands next to his car near 'The Hero Monument' sculpture in Manhattan, New York. AP -
Christopher Edwards holds up a memorial to those who died from Covid-19, including his grandmother, Brenda Meadows, in Washington, May 5, 2021. AFP -
A woman and child look at the 'Naming the Lost Memorials' at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Reuters -
Faces of victims of Covid-19 are projected on to the Brooklyn Bridge on March 14, 2021, in New York. Getty Images via AFP -
Artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation, 'In America: Remember' in Washington, September 17, 2021. AP -
A cyclist rides past the 'In America: Remember' memorial. Reuters -
One of the flags that make up the 'In America: Remember' installation. AP -
Visitors mourn at the 'In America: Remember' memorial. AP -
The memorial with the Washington Monument in the background. AP -
An aerial view of the memorial. AP -
A flag with a message for a loved one. AP -
The installation consisted of more than 600,000 flags. AP -
A mourner visits the memorial. AP -
A visitor sits on a bench near the memorial. AP -
Two people hug as they look at the thousands of white flags. Reuters -
Part of artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation. AP -
Hundreds of Covid survivors march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in New York. AP -
A woman holds an image of her husband as hundreds of Covid survivors gather at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. AP -
A sign at a Covid survivors' march in New York. AP -
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive for a memorial for victims of Covid-19 in Washington. Getty Images / AFP -
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service -
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service
It allowed the US government to supply free Covid tests, treatments and vaccines nationally. It also allowed greater social safety net benefits for those hit hardest by the virus.
With the emergency ending, Covid vaccines and Paxlovid will probably remain free for most Americans, while costs may be introduced for tests and treatments.
The government-run free Covid-19 test site will stop taking orders at the end of May.
The Biden administration asserts that it will ensure access to services for uninsured people, while care will move into the private market for insured Americans.
Tele-health services have been extended for communities with hard-to-reach care through 2024.
It is not clear what the future is for Covid-19 vaccinations. US regulatory agencies have moved towards updates for annual seasonal immunisations, while some say Covid has not become a seasonal virus like the flu.
The requirement for federal workers and international travellers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 has ended.
The CDC will no longer have access to data that will allow it to regularly report cases and transmission rates.
It will now report death counts and organise Covid-19 hospital admissions. The health agency is working to use wastewater data.
