COVID is still a pandemic, U.S. faces many challenges -White House coordinator
2022.05.13 01:31
FILE PHOTO: Dr. Ashish Jha, Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response, speaks to reporters during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is still in a pandemic state and continues to reckon with an ever-evolving coronavirus despite making strides over the past two years, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha said on Thursday.
“We have over 80,000 infections happening a day, hundreds of people are still dying every day. We still have a whole host of challenges,” Jha said when asked if the government should extend the public health emergency.
Health officials are planning for a scenario in which Congress fails to approve President Joe Biden’s request for additional COVID funds by going through old contracts to see if there is any money they could “claw back,” Jha told Reuters in an interview.
