(HealthDay News) – The national and public health emergencies for COVID-19 officially ended Monday after President Joe Biden signed a Republican-backed bill to end the emergency a month earlier than planned.

The White House had earlier said the legislation would “create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system — for states, for hospitals and doctors’ offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans,” CBS News reported.

The national emergency was first declared by former President Donald Trump in March 2020. It allowed for federal funding to go to cities and states for COVID testing and vaccinations.

The legislation ends Title 42, as well. This blocked undocumented immigrants from crossing the southern border, for public health reasons, CBS News reported.

That policy was already in flux because of a U.S. Supreme Court case.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.

SOURCE: CBS News

Source: HealthDay