Biden extends state of emergency in the US

US President Joe Biden has said that the US state of emergency declared in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended beyond March 1 due to continuing public health risks.

“More than 900,000 people in this country have died from this disease, and it is imperative that we continue to fight and respond to COVID-19 with all the strength and capabilities of the federal government,” the president said.

The emergency would have been automatically terminated if the president had not, within 90 days before the anniversary of its proclamation, sent a notice of renewal to Congress.

The state of emergency gives the president some additional legal powers that he can use at any time.