Examining Reactions to Biden Saying COVID-19 Pandemic 'is Over'

In an interview with CBS News's (Lean Left bias) 60 Minutes aired on Sunday, President Joe Biden declared that the "pandemic is over." How did America react?

Those who still see COVID-19 as a significant public health emergency tended to criticize the remark, and highlighted data about how case and death counts remain high relative to the spring. The Washington Post's editorial board argued that the pandemic "is still raging — in the sense that a dangerous virus is infecting, sickening and killing people, mutating to survive and haunting the globe."

One article from STAT News cited numerous health experts who agreed that "the pandemic is over when people stop taking measures to protect themselves" and "resume pre-pandemic behavior." The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) COVID-19 public health emergency declaration expires Oct. 13, but may be renewed.

Those who believe the pandemic is over responded by calling on Biden's administration to end all COVID-related restrictions and vaccine mandates. Right-rated news sources tended to highlight these voices as well as other critics. Some voices in right-rated outlets, including National Review (Right bias), also cited the comment as evidence that Biden's move to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt is illegal, since the memo seeking to justify the program cites "financial hardship arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic" as a primary justification.