Trump administration submits formal notice of withdrawal from WHO

Following through on an announcement made by President Trump in May, the U.S. yesterday formally notified the UN that it is withdrawing from the WHO. If the U.S. were to follow through with its withdrawal — which the administration has said is because of the WHO's mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic — it would throw major uncertainty into the future of global health governance, as the WHO depends on U.S. funds to execute many essential programs around the world, including polio eradication and programs to keep track of antimicrobial resistance. However, the withdrawal doesn't go into effect until July 2021, and should Trump lose reelection, a Biden administration could reverse the decision — which the former vice president has already indicated he would do.

Here's what else is new with the pandemic:

President Trump said during a press conference yesterday that his administration is "very much going to put pressure on the governors and the schools to reopen [in the fall]." The conference also included comment from the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who echoed the organization's stance that missing school is detrimental for the social and emotional well-being of children.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro shared yesterday that he tested positive for Covid-19. Bolsonaro previously downplayed risks of the virus: He has likened the infection to "a measly cold" and ignored guidelines including the use of masks and distancing recommendations.
The author of a new First Opinion details how he has experienced Covid-19 symptoms for more than 100 days — and they show few signs of abating. He has since learned that there are others like him who have prolonged illness, some of whom have more debilitating symptoms than he experiences. "As we enter the next phase, increasing evidence points to a significant proportion of us with prolonged symptoms, and this warrants attention," he writes.