Emergency Declaration

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with ongoing mysteries in long COVID and vaccine developments. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% post-Omicron, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing nursing shortages, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic stress.

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with lasting impacts on healthcare. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% after Omicron dominance, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections can prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing a nursing shortage, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic-related stress.