Covid-19

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease official, in contempt of Congress. The vote escalates a long-running standoff between Republican lawmakers and Fauci over documents and testimony connected to the federal response to Covid-19 and the origins of the pandemic. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades before retiring in 2022, remains a frequent target of congressional scrutiny, and the move is likely to deepen partisan fights over pandemic-era decisions.

Spain is recording a sharp rise in COVID-19, with estimated incidence climbing 69% in a week to 85 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 50.4 the previous week. Test positivity for SARS-CoV-2 also rose steeply, from 19% to 25.8%. The figures point to a new wave of infections gaining momentum across the country.

The United Nations General Assembly convened its second High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, bringing member states together to strengthen global defences against future health emergencies. The World Health Organization is highlighting the meeting as a key moment for international coordination, three years after the first such session and amid ongoing negotiations over a global pandemic agreement.

A new survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases finds that most US adults support vaccines, yet many remain unclear about current recommendations for respiratory vaccines, such as those for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The findings highlight a gap between general trust in vaccination and public understanding of which shots are advised and when.

The updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine has become available, and people are booking appointments at pharmacies such as Walgreens, including Moderna boosters. The rollout comes as US trackers report a 13th COVID wave, with outbreaks in 40 states and territories and millions of estimated current infections, prompting renewed calls for annual boosters.

A government minister has called for the protection of families and children as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, according to a report carried under a family and parenting focus. The appeal underscores concerns about how the pandemic affects household welfare, parenting and child safety. Details of the minister's identity, country and specific measures were not provided in the available report.