Free Republic

The Senate passed a resolution, 68-23, on March 29 to end the COVID-19 national emergency sooner than scheduled. The measure, which was introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and passed the House on Feb. 1, now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Democrats, according to media reports. The White House planned to end both the COVID national emergency—which then-President Donald Trump enacted on March 13, 2020—on May 11. However, this bill will terminate the national emergency a month earlier than scheduled. The administration is also set to end...

President Joe Biden’s administration on March 2 unveiled a rejiggered COVID-19 strategy he said would help the country get back to “a more normal routine.” The 90-page National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan seeks to reduce severe illness while keeping schools and businesses open. It includes a “test to treat” program that would provide antiviral pills at pharmacies to people who test positive for the virus. If funded by Congress, it will also expand research at the National Institute of Health (NIH) and launch new “centers of excellence” across the country meant to help people with “long COVID.” “This plan lays out...