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Statement at the fifteenth meeting of the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic

December 22, 2025

The WHO Director-General has the pleasure of transmitting the Report of the fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, held on Thursday 4 May 2023, from 12 :00 to 17:00 CET.

During the deliberative session, the Committee members highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths, the decline in COVID-19 related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2. The Committee’s position has been evolving over the last several months. While recognizing the remaining uncertainties posted by potential evolution of SARS-CoV-2, they advised

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Health Info

HHS Proposes Rule to Establish Disincentives for Health Care Providers that have Committed Information Blocking

July 9, 2025

HHS requests public comment by January 2, 2024

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released a proposed rule for public comment that would establish disincentives for health care providers found by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) to have committed information blocking – when a provider knowingly and unreasonably interferes with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information except as required by law or covered by a regulatory exception. The proposed rule, which reflects contributions from throughout the department, implements the HHS Secretary’s authority under section 4004 of the 21st Century Cures Act

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