Federal coronavirus aid to states extended into July

President Biden announced Tuesday that he will extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s  (FEMA) coronavirus aid for states through July. 

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients reportedly told governors in a call about the extension of FEMA’s federal aid to help support agency-backed efforts including vaccination clinics, mass testing sites, and hospital resources to help deal with severe COVID-19 cases. 

“FEMA’s priority throughout the response to COVID-19 has been to coordinate and provide the necessary resources and personnel states, tribes and territories need to adequately respond to the pandemic,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement, via the Associated Press. 

“Today’s extension of the 100% cost-share through July 1, 2022, builds on our efforts to assist impacted communities across state and federal levels.”

FEMA recently sent $1.2 million to Indiana’s Ball State University last month to help cover on-campus testing and $91.8 million to the state of Wisconsin to help cover costs for COVID-19 testing and staffing in treatment centers, the AP reported. 

The announcement comes despite COVID-19 cases across the country dropping sharply following the omicron wave that swept across the world starting late last year. 

However, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week found most Americans are unsure if the pandemic is behind them and remain skeptical about going back to normal life. 

Nine U.S. states have lifted their mask mandate this year, citing the recent decrease of COVID-19 cases. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday eased its mask recommendation for 70 percent of Americans who in areas at low or medium COVID-19 risk.

Biden initially signed the executive order to help FEMA cover COVID-19 related state emergency costs through September 2021, then extended the order to the end of 2021 and again through April 1, the AP noted.