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

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."

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

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.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

The U.S. is continuing to experience its steepest increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since the winter of 2020, with more than 101,000 patients now in hospitals, according to federal data. This marks the highest number of patients in seven months.

Eight weeks ago, there were under 12,000 patients receiving care.

The country's daily death average has increased to more than 800 deaths per day. This is a 317% jump in the last seven weeks and marks the highest average since mid-March 2021.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Texas' Department of State Health Services is sending 2,500 medical workers to support the state's overwhelmed health care facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday.

This follows the 5,600 medical workers, mostly nurses and respiratory therapists, previously dispatched to the state's hospitals.

Texas' Department of State Health Services is also offering more medical equipment including ventilators and hospital beds, the governor said.

Texas had 13,928 COVID-19 patients in hospitals as of Wednesday evening, nearing the state's record of 14,218 patients in January.