Editors Choice

Reflecting on the End of the COVID Public Health Emergency

On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed H.J. Res. 7, which ended the national emergency order for COVID-19. The Public Health Emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is set to expire on May 11. I also recently celebrated the end of mandatory universal masking at my hospital. We have definitely turned a corner in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before these things happened, most of the country – if not the world – seem to have moved on from COVID-19. Barely anyone masks in the airport (though I still do). Barely anyone masks on the plane (though I still do). Still, having the national public health emergency officially end is a major turning point. It seems that the COVID-19 nightmare is finally over.

At the same time, the nightmare for the families and loved-ones of the more than 1,100,000 Americans who were killed by COVID-19 has hardly ended. The nightmare of the approximately 245,000 children in the US and 10.5 million children globally – who have lost one or both parents to COVID-19 – has hardly ended. Yes, we are celebrating – rightly so – not having to wear masks everywhere in the hospital all the time. And for so many, the pain and horror of loss continues day by day.

We are celebrating the end of the pandemic, and so many others have to celebrate birthdays without their loved ones there any longer. We are celebrating no longer being overwhelmed by patient after patient with a strange and novel deadly disease, and so many others just celebrated Easter without their loved ones there any longer. We get the mark the anniversary of the first patient with COVID-19 to hit our ICU with gratitude that we survived the pandemic. So many others must endure anniversary after anniversary of the death of their loved ones to COVID-19 (including my own uncle, who died from COVID-19 several years ago).

I am not trying take away from the happiness of this moment. We on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic have endured so much pain, so much anguish, and so much difficulty. At the same time, I would be remiss if I did not pause and think about all the people who are suffering from the terrible loss inflicted by COVID-19.

May the Precious Beloved comfort all those who have suffered loss from this terrible pandemic. The pain may get better, but it never goes away. Having lost a child myself, I know all too well about this pain.

Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa

Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa is a NY Times featured Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine specialist in clinical practice for over 20 years. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Sleep Medicine. He is a prolific writer, with dozens of peer-reviewed scientific articles and medical blog posts. He is a Physician Leader and published author. His latest book is "Code Blue," a medical thriller.

Recent Posts

Your Trail Is a Toxic Path: How Hiking & Outdoor Gear Are Seeding Plastic Into Our Bodies

I spent many summers on Long Island when it was still a forest wonderland of…

10 hours ago

Anti-Intelligence: The Map That Forgot the Territory

There’s a line I’ve always loved: “The map is not the territory.” Alfred Korzybski wrote…

11 hours ago

Two Gatherings, One Mission: Elevating Life Science Leadership and Communication

Every industry has its signature gatherings, places where thought leaders assemble to shape the next…

3 days ago

SUICIDE: IS AI RESPONSIBLE?

The Raines discovered their son Adam in the closet where he hung himself with the…

2 weeks ago

Beds, Forests and the Price of Credibility at COP30

On a damp, equatorial morning in Belém, the river smells faintly of diesel and guava. Vendors…

2 weeks ago

Inside the High-Stakes Battle Over Vaccine Injury Compensation, Autism, and Public Trust

[Reprinted with permission from KFF Health News. Authored by Céline Gounder] Department of Health and…

2 weeks ago

This website uses cookies. Your continued use of the site is subject to the acceptance of these cookies. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

Read More