Covid Public Health Emergency Gets Last-Minute Extension by HHS

The Covid-19 public health emergency declaration granting the Biden administration emergency powers to grapple with the pandemic will get a 90-day extension.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Thursday signed the latest extension of the so-called PHE designation.

First launched in 2020 and renewed since then in 90-day increments, the designation was set to expire Thursday. The designation has eased the way for the administration to help more Americans obtain government health insurance and rapidly approve drugs and treatment for public use.

The extension was widely expected as an HHS official had previously said the administration would give ...