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.
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Aug 23, 2021, 6:26 PM EDT
Chicago to mandate vaccinations for all city workers
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday afternoon that city workers will have to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
Lightfoot said that the city has been working with labor unions over the last several weeks to finalize plans.
"It's for the safety of all involved," she said.
Lightfoot did not immediately reveal a deadline or other details about her order.
Aug 23, 2021, 4:40 PM EDT
Honolulu suspending large gatherings due to dramatic uptick in cases
All large gatherings in Honolulu will be suspended due to a dramatic uptick in cases, Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced Monday.
Health care workers are "pushed beyond their limits," the mayor said.
In this July 14, 2021, file photo, members of the community group We are Oceania, get ready to start a COVID-19 vaccination clinic as people wait for it to start in Honolulu.
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP
The ban begins Aug. 25 and will last for four weeks.
Aug 23, 2021, 3:39 PM EDT
5 Southern states have ICUs over 90% full
Five states have intensive care units over 90% full: Alabama (100%), Florida (92.82%), Georgia (92.95%), Mississippi (93.81%) and Texas (91.27%), according to federal data.
The South also leads the country with the highest case rates. Louisiana and Mississippi have the highest case rates, followed by Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and South Carolina, according to federal data.
More than 95.6% of counties are either reporting high (89.32%) or substantial (6.24%) community transmission, federal data shows. Just 4.41% of counties are reporting moderate or low transmission.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Aug 23, 2021, 2:10 PM EDT
FDA grants full approval for Pfizer vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, becoming the first COVID-19 vaccine to transition from an emergency authorization status to full FDA approval.
The full approval indicates that Pfizer has shown enough effectiveness and safety data to meet the stringent Biologics License Application requirements, which includes at least six months of safety data from a majority of the volunteers in a large, final stage clinical trial.
A healthcare worker fills a syringe with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a community vaccination event in Los Angeles, Aug. 11, 2021.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Pfizer's full approval will pave the way for further vaccine mandates in both the public and private sector. Some businesses and state leaders have held off thus far, signaling they'd wait for full approval before imposing tighter requirements.
Federal, state and local health officials have also expressed optimism that full approval will help dissolve some of the lingering hesitancy around taking a shot that until now has been only authorized for emergency use.
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock called Monday's announcement a "pivotal moment" made possible by a "rigorous and thorough review" done in record time.
"Working around the clock, FDA staff were able to complete the evaluation of this biologics license application in just over three months," she said. "This is an unprecedented timeline given the volume of review and the meticulous manner in which it was done, but we want to underscore that our efforts to move as quickly as possible have in no way sacrifice scientific standards for the integrity of our process."
President Joe Biden said Monday, "If you're one of the millions of Americans who've said that they will not get the shot until it has full and final approval of the FDA -- it has now happened.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Covid-19 response and the vaccination program at the White House on Aug. 23, 2021 in Washington, D.C.