The US Preparing for Post-Corona Era... "Reviewing Plans for Post-Pandemic Transition"

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] The U.S. government is reportedly considering a transition to the "post-pandemic" phase, CNN reported on the 7th (local time).

CNN cited the White House on the same day, stating that the U.S. government is contemplating what will happen when it moves out of the COVID-19 emergency and transitions to a stage closer to normalcy.

However, the official stance remains that it is still a "crisis situation," meaning that efforts will continue to be made to respond to the current Omicron spread.

Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, said in a recent briefing in response to questions about whether guidelines on how the transition to the post-pandemic phase will be made, and if so, when, "Our immediate focus is on fighting Omicron."

Nevertheless, some health experts and governors are urging the government to promptly present a blueprint for the post-pandemic transition.

Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), stated, "We need to outline several possible future scenarios for how this disease might evolve and develop transition plans based on these various scenarios."

Rochelle Walensky, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has identified the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations as a criterion for deciding when to lift quarantine regulations.

Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas, requested clear guidelines on how to return to the pre-pandemic normal during a meeting last week between President Joe Biden and governors, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to move beyond the pandemic.