Biden clarifies pandemic “is not where it was”

Editor's Note

Within the past week there has been conversation about a potential end to the COVID-19 pandemic as deaths are at their lowest level worldwide since the initial outbreak, OR Manager September 15 reported. Following comments from the World Health Organization, President Joe Biden said the pandemic was “over” in the US during an interview on CBS New's 60 Minutes, Becker's Hospital Review September 19 reports. 

"We still have a problem with COVID. We're still doing a lotta work on it. But the pandemic is over. If you notice, no one's wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it's changing," he said.

After this comments, Biden faced backlash from physicians and health experts who pointed out the nation's high COVID-19 death rate and widespread transmission. This comment led to protests outside the White House September 19, demanding more research on the diagnosis and treatment of long COVID-19. 

Soon after, President Biden clarified his statement, acknowledging the criticism at a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee on September 20. He noted that the COVID-19 crisis has become less severe and it "basically is not where it was."