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COVID-19 live updates: Judge rules governor stop banning mask mandates in schools

Ten Florida school districts have adopted mask mandates for students this month.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Morgan Winsor, Erin Schumaker, Meredith Deliso, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: August 23, 2021, 10:50 AM EDT

The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.

More than 634,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 60.8% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Aug 23, 2021, 10:50 AM EDT

NYC school staff must get vaccine

All of New York City’s nearly 150,000 public school employees must receive at least one vaccine dose by Sept. 27, Mayor Bill de Blasio will announce Monday. The new vaccination policy will not allow weekly testing as an option.

A classroom is empty on Nov. 19, 2020 at Yung Wing School P.S. 124 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

At least 63% of New York City's Department of Education employees are already vaccinated, Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter said.

The previous requirement allowed for weekly testing of the unvaccinated, with unpaid suspensions for workers who didn't comply.

New York City's school year starts on Sept. 13.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

Aug 23, 2021, 7:48 AM EDT

Rev. Jesse Jackson 'responding' to COVID treatment

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is in the hospital with COVID-19, is responding positively to treatment, his son told ABC Chicago station WLS.

Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke to the media outside of the African American History Museum, Aug. 4, 2021.
Zach Brien/AP, FILE

The 79-year-old, who has Parkinson’s disease, was vaccinated for COVID-19 in January, WLS reported.

His wife, Jacqueline, 77, is also in the hospital with COVID-19 and is resting comfortably, their son, Jonathan Jackson, said.

“She is having some oxygen but is able to function and breathe on her own without a respirator,” he told WLS.

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