Dr. Fauci on Trial
Over the last couple weeks, the United States Senate held a hearing to question Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), on the federal response to the COVID pandemic. This came about because the Trump administration obtained Dr. Fauci’s diary entries that he logged on his government computer before leaving NIAID. Dr. Fauci refused to answer any questions by invoking his right to silence under the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. The hearing committee has since voted to hold him in contempt, which will likely trigger a Department of Justice investigation. In short, the questions asked sought to reignite the flames of various conspiracy theories around the origins and spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, and the subsequent government response (or lack thereof).
Let us be very clear about what this hearing actually was: a distraction. Senators spent several days grilling Dr. Fauci on the pandemic, something they haven’t shown much concern for in several years. They did this to distract from the numerous crises in this country they refuse to confront: skyrocketing costs of living, ICE raids terrorizing our streets, foodborne illness outbreaks, Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and Lebanese people funded by our tax dollars, gas prices ever rising, the war in Iran that no one wants, a horrific job market, and of course the ongoing COVID pandemic among many other things.
These hearings make it clear that attacks on science and our right to privacy will not stop any time soon. We have been reporting on the origins and risks of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID for years now, and while there is still much to learn about this virus and disease, a lot of the science is very clear. Democrats and Republicans have shown facts will not stop the federal government from attacking scientists when it fits their agendas. The raiding and publishing of Dr. Fauci’s private, personal thoughts underscore that we do not actually have a right to privacy, as we are seeing play out in our communities that are invaded by Flock cameras that watch our every move.
Let this latest spectacle remind you of the importance of your resistance every day. Do not stop advocating for public health measures in your community. Do not stop sharing scientific facts even when it is inconvenient. Do not stop fighting the surveillance state. These fear tactics will not stop us and they should not stop you either.
The Weather
The CDC-based wastewater map was updated on August 6 and depicts wastewater levels for the period from July 26 to August 1.
Wastewater levels of COVID have increased in California, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands since our last report, indicating early signs of a late summer wave. While COVID trends aren’t exactly the same each year, we can expect cases will continue to increase as the fall school terms start this month and next. Alaska and the Virgin Islands are reporting “High” levels and California, Kentucky and Guam are reporting “Moderate.” The rest of the country is either “Low” or “Very Low.”
Mississippi, Montana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the Virgin Islands are reporting “Limited Coverage”, meaning that the data is based on less than 5% of the population and may not be accurate for the entire state. North Dakota is reporting “Limited/No Data.”
Regional trend data indicate the West has risen from “Very Low” to “Low” with the Southern and National trends also showing a slight increase. The Midwest and Northeast appear stable in “Very Low” all regions remain at “Very Low” levels.
Reactivation of Viruses in COVID Patients
A new study in Nature looking at over 1000 patients who previously had COVID found a significant trend in patients having dormant viruses reactivate after their SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many viruses that infect us never actually leave our bodies, they just go dormant and a well-functioning immune system can usually keep them that way. However, sometimes they can wake back up. This is what happens when someone gets shingles: earlier in life they had chickenpox, and then that virus (varicella zoster or herpes zoster) went dormant. Shingles is typically seen in older adults because our immune system naturally weakens as we age, so these dormant viruses can reawaken or reactivate. In this study, the scientists found patients had reactivated viruses from the Herpes and Anello families. The exact mechanism of virus reactivation is poorly understood in general; however, we do already have plenty of evidence that SARS-CoV-2 damages the immune system, which could be a potential explanation for these reactivated viruses. This is yet another example of how SARS-CoV-2 is not your average common cold virus. Its impacts are severe and long-lasting.
A New CDC Director
The US Senate recently confirmed the appointment of Dr. Erica Schwartz as the director of the CDC. Dr. Schwartz has already signaled she doesn’t believe RFK Jr. would ask her to change policies or guidelines that contradict science, despite RFK Jr’s reputation as HHS secretary being filled with exactly that kind of “leadership.” In more disturbing statements, Dr. Schwartz wants increased abortion surveillance while adding false claims about how certain states do and don’t log medical information related to abortion care. This comes as states across the country are starting to prosecute people who seek abortions. It’s clear Dr. Schwartz is chosen not for her expertise and commitment to public health, but because she is ready and willing to follow her tyrant’s orders and throw public health under the bus along the way.
Cyclosporiasis Update
The cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to grow nationwide with over 20,000 suspected cases reported. The CDC has expanded the outbreak investigation to 15 states. The parasite causes diarrheal illness, and it can be transmitted when food or water has been contaminated with feces; past outbreaks have been linked to contaminated lettuce, berries, and other produce. The CDC linked one outbreak to lettuce from Taylor Farms sold at retail stores and served in restaurants, though it continues to investigate other outbreaks that are unrelated to the Taylor Farms outbreak. A list of products is included in the recall notice. Michigan appears to be in a better spot as health officials report a decreased trend in cases and emergency room visits.
Madison, Wisconsin Protests
On July 22, police in Madison, Wisconsin, shot and killed Corey Ruiz, another murder at the hands of America’s highly militarized police state. In response, the community repeatedly occupied the intersection where Corey Ruiz was murdered after police tried time and again to disband the encampment. At one point, police drove bulldozers into the encampment in an effort to remove protestors. This reckless use of heavy machinery comes after police claim their opposition to the encampment had to do with public safety. A concern they did not seem to have when they shot Corey Ruiz. Madison police have now arrested 22 protestors.
America’s police state is only becoming more extreme, which means these large public acts of resistance are more important than ever. If you are joining or want to aid similar acts, remember to bring and donate high-quality masks (e.g., N95, KN95).
A War on The Left
Over the past several weeks, the federal administration’s effort to eliminate progressive and equity-focused initiatives has directly reshaped federal public health policy. Notably, the CDC will end direct grant renewals to community-based organizations focused on HIV prevention among marginalized groups, shifting those funds to state health departments to bypass localized equity models. Simultaneously, as a July 24 deadline enforces mandatory anti-DEI clauses across federal contracting, healthcare providers, research institutions, and public health grant recipients face heightened risks of defunding if their programs use DEI frameworks, nonbinary gender categories, or targeted racial disparity metrics. Public health experts and policy analysts warn that these rapid shifts threaten to sever trusted grassroots outreach, dilute specialized care access, and worsen outcomes for historically underserved populations.
Wastewater Surveillance at Risk
While wastewater surveillance continues to prove useful at mitigating disease spread, CDC wastewater monitoring efforts are set to be scaled back. Current programming has been cut from $125 million annually to $25 million annually, and the current contract with Verily Life Sciences has been briefly extended to a new expiration date of September 14. The pressure that we are putting on congress to continue these contracts is working, now more than ever it is important to ramp up both emails and calls. See more on how to do this in our “Take Action” section.
Take Action!
Demand Continued Wastewater Surveillance!
Ask your congressional leaders to renew $125 million dollars of annual funding to the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System to prevent it from going dark as soon as September 30, 2026. In addition to the above Action Network campaign, consider giving both your representatives and congresspeople a phone call to record your dissent. This program remains one of the most valuable public health tools for detecting increased spread of infectious diseases such as COVID, measles, polio, mpox, RSV, influenza, and avian flu.
Notes: 1) The numbers in this report were current as of 08/07/2026. 2) Check out the links throughout & see our website for more at https://peoplescdc.org. 3) Subscribe to our newsletter: People’s CDC | Substack.
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