White House Ends COVID-19 Testing for Biden and Harris Close Contacts

In a significant move signaling a shift towards post-pandemic normalcy, the White House has officially removed the COVID-19 testing requirement for individuals in close contact with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses. This policy change effectively ends the last remaining coronavirus prevention protocol at the White House and aligns with the latest updates in CDC guidelines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently revised its recommendations, reducing the isolation period for individuals with mild COVID-19 symptoms. The new guidelines permit people to resume regular activities if their symptoms are improving, they've been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and their symptoms are considered mild.

This pivot away from stringent testing protocols comes after more than four years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began during former President Donald Trump's tenure. President Biden, who assumed office in January 2021, has been actively managing the pandemic, including his own bout with the virus in the summer of 2022 following his vaccination—an infection that resulted in minimal symptoms.

Throughout the pandemic, the U.S. has experienced over 1.18 million COVID-related deaths and 6.85 million hospitalizations. However, the introduction and administration of COVID-19 vaccines—over 270 million Americans have received at least one dose—have played a crucial role in reducing the rates of severe illness and fatalities.

Political responses to the pandemic continue, as Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup, chair of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, shares insights from interviews with Dr. Fauci on "America's Newsroom." Concurrently, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-M****chusetts, and Sen. Ed Markey are advocating for the establishment of a "COVID-19 Victims Memorial Day" on the first Monday of March to honor the lives lost to the virus. The resolution for this memorial day was reintroduced on March 6, 2023, in an effort to bring national attention to the tragedy and push for protective measures against future health crises.

The CDC's latest action to discontinue the recommendation for a 5-day COVID isolation period further reflects the evolving understanding of the virus and its risks. While the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions received the resolution for COVID-19 Victims Memorial Day last year, it awaits further action. If passed, this memorial day would serve as a poignant reminder of the pandemic's impact, especially on vulnerable populations such as those in low-income communities, racial minorities, individuals with disabilities or comorbidities, and residents of congregate settings like long-term care facilities and prisons.

As the nation surpasses 100 million reported COVID-19 cases and over 1.1 million deaths, the White House's latest policy change and proposed memorial day mark both a turning point in pandemic management and an effort to acknowledge the profound losses endured by the American people.

Conservative Bias:

Folks, here's the latest charade from the liberal elites in the White House, who, after years of fearmongering and draconian measures that crushed our freedoms and our economy, have suddenly decided to end COVID-19 testing for those hobnobbing with Biden and Harris. It's convenient how they follow the CDC's flip-flopping guidance now that it suits their narrative of 'moving on'—a narrative they've spun only after inflicting untold damage on our nation with their lockdowns and mandates. This is the same administration that used the pandemic to justify mail-in voting and other schemes that undermined our election integrity. And now, as if by magic, they declare it's time for normalcy when it's politically expedient. Meanwhile, they ignore the real issue: the origin of the virus and holding China accountable. Instead, they're busy pushing for a 'COVID-19 Victims Memorial Day'—a ploy to keep the fear alive and manipulate the American public. It's all a smoke screen, a distraction from their failures and an attempt to rewrite history.

Liberal Bias:

Once again, the conservative death cult shows its true colors, railing against a sensible decision by the White House to end COVID-19 testing for close contacts of Biden and Harris, in line with CDC's updated guidelines. These are the same guidelines that the science-denying right has consistently attacked, even as they've led to a decrease in severe cases and deaths, thanks to the Biden administration's competent handling of vaccine distribution—a stark contrast to the previous administration's disastrous response that led to millions of unnecessary infections and a staggering death toll. Now, as we try to honor the victims of this tragedy with a COVID-19 Victims Memorial Day, these heartless conservatives are more interested in conspiracy theories and undermining public health measures than in acknowledging the profound suffering of countless Americans. Their refusal to support a day of remembrance is a slap in the face to everyone who lost loved ones to this virus, and it exposes their utter lack of empathy and their ongoing attempt to erase the pain and loss that their own policies exacerbated.