Biden admin extends COVID emergency declaration for three months

The Biden administration announced a 90-day extension of the nationwide COVID-19 emergency declaration on Thursday.

Originally declared in January 2020, the government has extended it at 90-day intervals for nearly three years, according to The Hill. The announcement comes amid falling case numbers.

"We know there's more work to do with real challenges ahead of us as we head into the fall and winter and the holidays," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha said this week, per the outlet. "We're doing everything we can as an administration to stay ahead of this virus... I remain incredibly confident we can manage this virus for this fall and winter with less suffering and we can have a safe and healthy holiday season ahead."

Jha did offer a positive note as well, saying "[i]f you are up to date with your vaccines and if you get treated, if you have a breakthrough infection, your risk of dying from COVID is now close to zero."

Also this week, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for vaccine boosters for use on children as young as 5 years old.