The national emergency declaration for COVID-19 in the U.S., announced last March, will continue beyond March 1, the White House said. 

"There remains a need to continue this national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a letter published on the White House website on Wednesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 500,000 lives in the U.S. and its overall infections have surpassed 28 million.  

"Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Proclamation 9994 concerning the COVID-19 pandemic," said Biden.

Under U.S. law, a national emergency will be automatically terminated unless the president demands its continuation within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration.