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 23, 2021, 5:27 PM EST

Airline lobbying group asks CDC to shorten isolation period for vaccinated passengers

Airlines for America (A4A), the group that lobbies on behalf of all major U.S. airlines, sent a letter to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky Thursday urging her to reconsider the 10-day quarantine policy for fully vaccinated passengers who have breakthrough cases.

Nick Calio, A4A's CEO, said the omicron surge "may exacerbate personnel shortages and create significant disruptions to our workforce and operations."

He echoed calls from Jet Blue and Delta Airlines to shorten the isolation period to five days.

"In turn, those individuals would be able to end isolation with an appropriate testing protocol," Calio wrote.

-ABC News' Amanda Maile

Dec 23, 2021, 4:15 PM EST

Italy to place more restrictions as cases soar

Italian officials said they will shut down nightclubs for over a month and mandate masks outdoors as the country continues to see a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

The country recorded 44,595 new COVID-19 cases, the highes one-day total since the pandemic began. The previous record was 40,902 on Nov. 13, 2020.

Italian officials said the mask mandate and nightclub shutdown will last until Jan. 31, 2022.

-ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfound

Dec 23, 2021, 3:20 PM EST

France posts single-day record of new coronavirus cases

France recorded 91,608 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, according to the country's national public health agency, Santé Publique France.

This is a new single-day record for new confirmed cases in the country.

Over 6.2 million PCR and antigen tests registered in France between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19, which is also a record, according to health officials.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged residents to get tested before Christmas.

-ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfound

Dec 23, 2021, 2:14 PM EST

NYC to scale back New Year's Eve celebration

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday that this year's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square will be scaled back due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

The city will only allow 15,000 spectators, a far cry from the 58,000 crowd that usually attends.

Viewing areas near the big ball drop will have smaller crowds, and attendees must adhere to strict requirements including proof of full vaccination and a mask mandate.

"There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the new year," the mayor said in a statement.