NY health provider may have fraudulently obtained COVID-19 vaccine

The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths jumped over the last seven days, according to an internal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News.

In the last week, the country recorded 1,677,232 new cases, which was a 13.6% increase from the previous seven-day period, according to the memo.

There were 18,578 deaths recorded during the last seven days, marking a 9.2% jump from the previous week, according to HHS.

Nearly 30% of hospitals across the country have more than 80% of their ICU beds filled, the memo said.

Several states recorded large jumps in hospitalizations last week, according to HHS.

On Dec 18, Louisiana state officials reported its 30-day increase in hospitalization was 82% and there were only 19.1% of ICU beds were available, according to the memo.

Nevada's COVID-19 deaths increased by 21% in the week ending Dec. 15, compared to the prior week, HHS said.

-ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer updated residents on the jump in coronavirus cases and said that hospitals have seen a huge jump in numbers.

There are currently 5,709 currently hospitalized for COVID-19, which is the highest number of patients since the pandemic began, according to the health data. Roughly 21% of patients are in the Intensive Care Unit and 15% are on ventilators, Ferrer said.

She added that from Nov. 9 to Dec. 17, the average daily hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 increased by 481%.

"If we don’t change how we’re going to celebrate the winter holidays, we’ll experience a surge, on top of a surge, on top of a surge," Ferrer said.

The county recorded 56 new deaths, 11,271 new cases and has a 14% cumulative positivity rate.

-ABC News' Cammeron Parrish contributed to this report.

A representative from Virgin Atlantic told ABC News it will implement a new protocol for United Kingdom travelers that mandates a COVID-19 test before boarding flights to the U.S.

"With the health and safety of our customers and people always our number one priority, we will require all travelers to present evidence of a negative LAMP or PCR COVID-19 test, taken up to 72 hours prior to departure, including on-site at the airport," the representative said in a statement.

The new requirement goes into effect on Dec. 24.

The change comes after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on international airlines to test passengers for the coronavirus before getting on a plane to the U.S. A variant of the virus has been discovered in Britain and prompted several countries to suspend travel from the U.K.

-ABC News' Nate Luna contributed to this report.

California’s stay-at-home orders -- currently in effect for 98% of the state’s population -- will likely be extended, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

A three-week stay-at-home order was issued in a region of California when it fell below 15% intensive care unit capacity. The stay-at-home order can only be lifted when ICU capacity returns to above 15%.

Two of the five regions, Southern California and San Joaquin Valley, currently have 0% capacity.

The Bay Area and the Greater Sacramento area also under a stay-at-home order. Northern California is the state’s only region not under the order.

California has 17,190 coronavirus patients in hospitals -- a 63% increase in the last two weeks.

California has deployed 607 state workers to 75 health care facilities in 24 counties that were requesting extra assistance. Newsom said he has asked the Department of Defense for 10 teams of 20 health care workers, and he is also asking a team that’s been working in Imperial County to extend its stay until the end of January.

ABC News’ Matt Fuhrman contributed to this report.