Like other countries, the US also bore the brunt of the pandemic in different forms and shapes. One of New York’s reputed hospitals dealt with over 400 sick patients during peak infection time. Today, the exact count has decreased to less than 5, and ICU cases have disappeared. This situation testifies that declaring the end of the emergency regarding the pandemic is acceptable. However, one needs to understand its implication. Many benefits people accessed during the national health emergency will be unavailable. Free supplies or offerings will stop. At the same time, some regulatory changes will become effective once more with the crisis gone.
Behavioral and human resource experts say that the pandemic emergency ended on May 11 after over three years, which witnessed one million deaths of fellow men and women and nearly 105 million cases of reported infections. COVID-19 wreaked havoc during 2020-2021 July. The hospitalization rate was the highest from December 2020 to January 2021.
A look at the changing scenario
During the pandemic, the public became habituated to certain things, which will now fade away and can be a little complicated. For instance, the federal government offered free Coronavirus testing to households. Now, one can expect at-home test kits to be pricey. Though private players can provide coverage, traditional Medicare and private insurance subscribers may not have free tests. Interestingly, over 81% of Americans (about 268 million individuals) received a minimum of one dose of the vaccine. If you have yet to immunize yourself, you can still access the vaccine for free until the stock lasts. After 2023, you may have to pay for it. Still, insured people can expect to enjoy the benefit.
What do underinsure or uninsured people do? The federal government’s one billion dollar initiative intends to help people with no insurance to obtain Coronavirus care at local health facilities and pharmacies.
The need to be on alert
The end of the emergency is one step. However, people need awareness that this declaration is positive and that vaccination and COVID-19 care will be accessible even beyond. Also, one should still be careful with the virus because Coronavirus was the country’s top four cause of death in 2022. The other leading causes of death are cancer, heart ailment, and injuries. The latest reports suggest the average daily mortality due to COVID is around 150. Hence, it’s necessary to take precautions. Avoid crowds when you feel discomfort for the sake of high-risk individuals and community. Although the federal government has done away with requiring COVID-19 data from local and state authorities, CDC has made arrangements with the American states and all the hospitals for updated status. COVID-related ER visits and wastewater testing will be prevalent.
The focus will shift to other things, but everything will remain in place regarding treating and managing the viral infection. It’s time to celebrate normalcy. However, if someone feels a symptom, they must test and take essential measures. The situation is far better than before. Still, watching over one’s health and fitness is necessary.
