U.S. sets to end COVID-19 public health emergency this week

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States will officially put an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency on Thursday.

The emergency was first instituted more than three years ago to provide funding and resources for the country to fight against the global pandemic.

Since taking office in 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly extended the emergency.

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services has provided a roadmap outlining the transition away from the public health emergency. Although COVID-19 vaccines will probably be covered at least until Sept. 30, 2024, COVID-19 treatments and testing might require out-of-pocket expenses based on health insurance. Medicaid determination is being pushed back to individual states.

Ending the COVID-19 public health emergency will impact some benefits, leading to mounting pressure to underinsured or uninsured people.

The mandatory sharing of COVID-19 lab test results and local and state vaccine data with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also come to an end when the public emergency ceases.