Public health officials and Democratic lawmakers criticized President Biden for saying the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
“The pandemic is over,” Biden told “60 Minutes” in an interview that ran Sunday, Sept. 18.
“We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lotta work on it… but the pandemic is over,” said Biden who twice tested positive for COVID in recent months.
“If you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing. And I think this [the Detroit Auto Show resuming] is a perfect example of it.”
Public health officials scrambled to get the message out that the pandemic is not over and Americans should be getting vaccinated and receiving booster shots.
“The pandemic isn’t over. And we will remain vigilant, and of course, we continue to look for and prepare for unforeseen twists and turns,” said Ashish Jha, the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator.
Republicans applauded Biden’s statement and said Americans are eager to move on from COVID.
“Now that the President has finally acknowledged the pandemic is over, he should immediately begin to unwind the public health emergency (PHE) so our country can get back to normal,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said in a statement on Monday.
