Omicron updates: COVID-19 cases could double in New York City

New York's seven-day average case rate has jumped by 43% since Thanksgiving.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: December 13, 2021, 4:29 AM EST

As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 797,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

Just 60.7% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Dec 06, 2021, 12:52 PM EST

US daily case average climbs over 100K for 1st time in 2 months

For the first time in two months, the U.S. is now averaging more than 100,000 new cases per day, according to federal data. On average, about 106,000 new cases are being reported each day -- up by about 27% in the last week, and by 65.4% since late-October. 

New Hampshire currently holds the country's highest case rate, followed by Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin. Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Florida have the lowest infection rate, according to federal data.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Dec 06, 2021, 12:27 PM EST

Omicron appears to be 'dominating' new cases in most South African provinces

The omicron variant appears to be "dominating" new infections in most of South Africa's provinces, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a newsletter Monday.

Passengers queue outside a COVID-19 testing center at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, on Dec. 3, 2021.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ramaphosa said the number of daily cases has increased five-fold in the last week.

"As the country heads into a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, we are experiencing a rate of infections that we have not seen since the pandemic started," he warned.

Just 24.41% of South Africa's population is fully vaccinated, according to Africa CDC. Ramaphosa said scientists in South Africa and around the world are working to answer critical questions about the new variant, and the urgent priority is to continue getting people vaccinated. 

A woman is vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Hillbrow Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 6, 2021.
Shiraaz Mohamed/AP

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Dec 06, 2021, 11:51 AM EST

Italy tightens rules for unvaccinated people in public

Italy's Super Green Pass -- which certifies a person is fully vaccinated or has recovered from COVID-19 -- is now required inside restaurants as well as sports and cultural events.

The Super Green Pass goes into effect Monday and will last at least through Jan. 15, 2022.

COVID-19 cases in Italy have increased by 57% over the two weeks, according to the World Health Organization.

-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson

Dec 06, 2021, 8:42 AM EST

NYC mandating vaccines for all private sector employees

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a vaccine mandate for all private sector employees.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio at the 2021 Global Citizen Live concert at Central Park in N.Y., Sept. 25, 2021.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters, FILE

On the talk show "Morning Joe," the mayor called the mandate, which goes into effective Dec. 27, a "preemptive strike."

New York City will also now mandate two vaccine doses, instead of one, for indoor activities, and will require proof of vaccination for indoor dining for kids ages 5 to 11.

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