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 27, 2021, 9:20 AM EDT
Kentucky sees 3rd-highest day of cases
As Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state's third-highest day of COVID-19 cases, he said at a news conference Thursday, "I’m gonna admit up front today I’m a little emotional and a little raw."
"Seeing nearly 5,000 cases and 65 Kentuckians that we lost in just one day’s report is tough," the governor said, adding that "it is entirely preventable."
Visitors receive COVID-19 vaccines at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 21, 2021.
Amira Karaoud/Reuters
Hospitalizations have increased every day in the last 42 days, he said.
On July 14, there were 60 people in intensive care units. As of Wednesday there were 549, he said.
At the beginning of the summer Kentucky's positivity rate fell to 1.79%. It's now soared to 13.16%, he said.
Aug 27, 2021, 4:27 AM EDT
Houston sees 5-fold increase in COVID-19 vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations in Houston increased more than five-fold on Thursday as the city launched a new incentive program.
The Houston Health Department is now providing up to $150 in gift cards to get vaccinated against COVID-19. A total of 740 vaccine doses were administered at the health department's eligible sites on Thursday, the first day of the program, marking a 51% increase over Wednesday's total of 121 doses.
Of the total shots administered Thursday, 658 were first doses and 82 were second dose, according to a press release from the health department.
Aug 26, 2021, 10:29 PM EDT
SCOTUS suspends eviction moratorium
The U.S. Supreme Court suspended the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's nationwide eviction moratorium in an unsigned, 6-3 opinion Thursday night
"It is indisputable that the public has a strong interest in combating the spread of the COVID–19 Delta variant. But our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends," the court wrote. "It is up to Congress, not the CDC, to decide whether the public interest merits further action here."
"If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it," it continued. "The application to vacate stay presented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the Court is granted."
In this file photo taken on Aug. 21, 2020, renters and housing advocates attend a protest to cancel rent and avoid evictions in front of the court house amid the coronavirus pandemic in Los Angeles.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan dissented.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki lamented the Supreme Court's ruling, saying the CDC moratorium "saved lives by preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus."
"As a result of this ruling, families will face the painful impact of evictions, and communities across the country will face greater risk of exposure to COVID-19," Psaki said in a statement, before reiterating President Joe Biden's call for states, localities, landlords and local courts to do what they can to prevent evictions.
The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Congress to act in regard to the eviction moratorium, but Republicans have opposed the proposals.
The CDC had issued a 60-day extension to the moratorium the first week in August after the previous one expired July 31.
-ABC News' Devin Dwyer
Aug 26, 2021, 6:37 PM EDT
Every state now reporting high community transmission
Every state in the country is now reporting high community transmission of COVID-19, according to newly updated federal data.
In mid-June, no states were reporting high transmission, and just six states were reporting substantial transmission. Now, 10 weeks later, all 50 states are in that category, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The development comes as the delta variant has also rapidly spread. In June, the highly contagious variant accounted for just 26.4% of all new COVID-19 cases in the U.S.; today, it accounts for nearly 99%, according to the CDC.
