COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Reaffirmed

The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed in a media post that effective April 16, 2022, due to the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020.

HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra issued this notice on April 12, 2022.

Under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, the HHS Secretary may determine that:

1. a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency; or
2. that a public health emergency, including significant outbreaks of infectious disease or bioterrorist attacks, otherwise exists.

The declaration lasts for the duration of the emergency or 90 days but may be extended by the Secretary.

To learn more about the extension and other flexibilities tied to the public health emergency declaration, please read the full text of the Acting Secretary's letter from January 21, 2021.

The mission of the Department of HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of Americans by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.

Note: The government documents were edited for clarity and curated for mobile readership.