COVID-19 live updates: City sees fourfold increase in pediatric hospitalizations

The shift reflects the spread of the omicron variant.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, and Mary Kekatos
Last Updated: December 27, 2021, 2:21 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 816,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 61.7% 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 is developing. All times Eastern.
Dec 22, 2021, 12:00 PM EST

Delta says omicron surge may 'create significant disruptions,' asks CDC to shorten isolation period for the fully vaccinated

Delta Air Lines said the omicron surge "may exacerbate shortages and create significant disruptions."

Delta is urging the CDC to shorten the time fully vaccinated people must isolate following breakthrough infections, saying the current 10-day period "may significantly impact [its] workforce and operations."

Delta proposed a five-day isolation from symptom onset for those who experience a breakthrough infection. 

"Our employees represent an essential workforce to enable Americans who need to travel domestically and internationally," Delta said in a letter. 

Ninety percent of Delta's workforce is fully vaccinated.

-ABC News' Amanda Maile

Dec 22, 2021, 11:19 AM EST

UK records over 100K daily cases for 1st time

The United Kingdom recorded 106,122 new cases in the last 24 hours, surpassing 100,000 daily cases for the first time, according to government data.

That brings the total of cases over the past seven days to 643,219 -- a 58.9% jump from the previous week.

Deaths, however, are not rising. This week's death toll is down 2.7% from the week before.

-ABC News' Guy Davies

Dec 22, 2021, 10:26 AM EST

New York City, DC, Vermont averaging more daily cases than any other point of pandemic

The U.S. is now averaging nearly 150,000 new COVID-19 cases every day, up about 72% in the last month. Over the last week alone, the nation has recorded more than 1 million new cases, according to federal data.

Every state in the country except for one -- Montana -- is currently experiencing high community transmission, according to federal data.

New York City, Vermont and Washington, D.C., are now averaging more daily cases than at any other point in the pandemic.

PHOTO: A sign announcing a temporary closure is posted at a CityMD health clinic, a facility that offers COVID-19 tests, as the Omicron variant continues to spread in New York City, Dec. 22, 2021.
A sign announcing a temporary closure is posted at a CityMD health clinic, a facility that offers COVID-19 tests, as the Omicron variant continues to spread in New York City, Dec. 22, 2021.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Florida is now reporting its highest number of new cases in about three months.

Cars line up at a COVID-19 testing site at Tropical Park in Miami, Dec. 21, 2021.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Since early December, Georgia's daily case average has more than doubled, while Hawaii's average has quadrupled, according to federal data.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Dec 22, 2021, 9:33 AM EST

Ohio hospitals take out an ad in local paper pleading for people to get vaccinated

Six hospitals in Ohio have taken out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer in a desperate plea for people to get vaccinated as the state faces a renewed surge.

The ad, which appeared in Sunday's paper, says in big letters: "Help."

"We need your help. We now have more COVID-19 patients in our hospitals than ever before," the ad says. "And the overwhelming majority are unvaccinated. This is preventable."

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced last week that he would deploy the state's National Guard to help with hospital strain. Ohio is now averaging more than 9,100 new cases every day -- up 67.5% in the last month. Statewide, more than 5,200 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.

"The best way to avoid serious illness is the vaccine," the ad said. "So, get vaccinated and get your booster ... we need you to care as much as we do."

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos