WORLD

Biden says the pandemic is over, but at least 400 people are dying daily

For many Americans who are still experiencing the fallout from the pandemic, U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks — and the suggestion that the nation is moving on — were painful. | REUTERS

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg
The New York Times

Sep 20, 2022

WASHINGTON –

With 400 to 500 Americans still dying every day of COVID-19, U.S. President Joe Biden has declared that "the pandemic is over.”

But don’t tell that to people like Debra McCoskey-Reisert, whose mother died in early August. Or Ben HsuBorger, who has chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition often brought on by viruses, including the coronavirus. Or Peter W. Goodman, whose wife died on Aug. 17.

"It’s not over for me,” said a tearful Goodman, 76, who is retired after working as a journalism professor at Hofstra University on Long Island. Both he and his wife, Debbie, 70, became sick with COVID-19 last month. He recovered. She did not.