The American Society for Microbiology joins more than 90 science and public health organizations in supporting HHS's recent announcement that the government will be renewing the public health emergency declaration (PHE) issued in response to COVID-19.

Last month, recognizing the severity of the pandemic, ASM and partners initiated a sign-on letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to renew the PHE before its expiration on July 25.

On July 30, 2020, ASM submitted the following letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.


Dear Secretary Azar:

We, the undersigned organizations, thank you for renewing the public health emergency (PHE) declaration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for another 90 days. Together we represent millions of individuals working to address the unprecedented challenges the pandemic has presented to our society, our healthcare system, and our economy.

As you know, this renewal means that the federal government can continue to deploy all resources and authorities necessary to protect the public and assist states and localities as they continue to respond to this urgent situation. We cannot afford to ease up on our response to this grave threat as the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections continues to rise at an alarming rate across the country. By maintaining the PHE status, we can facilitate coordination and collaboration across and amongst federal agencies and with state and local authorities, increase the pace of research on SARS-CoV-2, accelerate development and approval of medical countermeasures and novel diagnostics, and ensure that individuals, particularly those who are in the most vulnerable communities, have access to myriad necessary health care and other social services.

We remain committed to working with you, the Administration, and Congress to meet the continued needs of the American public and move our nation through and beyond this pandemic.

Sincerely,

African American Health Alliance
AIDS United
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
American Association for Respiratory Care
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Association of Bioanalysts
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association on Health and Disability
American Clinical Laboratory Association
American Clinical Neurophysiology Society
American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
American College of Preventive Medicine
American Dental Hygienists' Association
American Lung Association
American Medical Technologists
American Optometric Association
American Osteopathic Association
American Public Health Association
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for Investigative Pathology
American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Society for Virology
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Association for Molecular Pathology
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Black Cardiologists
Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Association of Minority Health Professions Schools
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Beckman Coulter
Big Cities Health Coalition
BioFire Diagnostics, LLC
Ceres Community Project
Children's Environmental Health Network
College of American Pathologists
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
CUGH
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Endocrine Society
Epilepsy Alliance America
Epilepsy Foundation
GenMark Diagnostics
Health Leadership Legacy Project
Hepatitis B Foundation
HIV Medicine Association
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Int'l Safety Equipment Assn
Lakeshore Foundation
Luminex Corporation
Multipurpose Senior Services Program
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of School Nurses
National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials
National Athletic Trainers' Association
National Black Nurses Association
National Independent Laboratory Association
National Safety Council
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Prevent Blindness
Prevention Institute
Quantitative Health
Research!America
Safe States Alliance
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Society for Women's Health Research
Society of General Internal Medicine
Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
STChealth LLC
Tennessee Justice Center
The Family Resource Network
The Foundation for Sustainable Communities
The Gerontological Society of America
Trust for America’s Health
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Washington State Department of Health
Youth Villages