Amid a deluge of cuts to federal spending, the Trump administration has canceled three grants totaling $85.6 million to Santa Clara County that helped fund public health initiatives related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines.

Regulators will soon “unleash a massive framework” for how vaccines are tested and approved, according to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in U.S. vaccine uptake, while widespread misinformation and distrust make it challenging to craft effective public health responses.

GENEVA: The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday (May 19) urged countries to adopt this week the Pandemic Agreement, aimed at preventing a repeat of the COVID-19 crisis. WHO member states are holding their annual World Health Assembly,

JN.1 may not be more severe, but it spreads fast, and that’s reason enough to stay alert. Across Asia, the priority is clear: stay prepared, stay informed, and use lessons from past outbreaks to keep ahead of the virus.

Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand are witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases. In Singapore, the surge in infections is driven by LF.7 and NB.1.8 — both descendants of JN.1 variant, which is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variety.

Amid concerns over the resurgence of COVID-19 in China, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there was no specific trend in Korea. According to Hong Kong's health authorities and media reports,

The Social Development Office has announced measures to combat the spread of coronavirus in preschool development centres across Bangkok.SDO director Kanjana Phupipatthanaphon emphasised the importance of adhering to DMHT measures - distancing (1-2 metres between individuals),