COVID updates: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tests positive

The U.S. is averaging more than 206,000 new COVID-19 cases each day -- a roughly 147% jump in the last month, according to federal data.

Five states -- Florida, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Massachusetts -- are reporting more new cases than at any other point in the pandemic, according to federal data.

Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C., have seen their case averages triple, while Louisiana, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey and New York City have seen their case averages double.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

The Biden administration has ended its travel ban on eight African countries, citing increased knowledge of omicron and improved testing requirements for international travelers. 

The ban was put in place in late November amid concerns about the new variant that was first found in southern Africa.

President Joe Biden said in a proclamation Tuesday, "Scientific experts have determined that people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are protected against severe disease and hospitalization from the Omicron variant. Moreover, the Omicron variant has now spread to more than 100 countries, and it is prevalent in the United States. At the same time, my Administration has made international travel to the United States from all countries safer."

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

The Chinese city of Xi'an has 175 of the nation's 209 new COVID-19 cases, health authorities said.

Xi'an is under lockdown, leaving highways and walkways empty.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Vice President Kamala Harris' PCR test came back negative Monday, following close contact with a staffer who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to a White House official. 

The staffer was with Harris throughout the day last Tuesday and tested positive the following morning, Harris' spokeswoman, Symone Sanders, said at the time.

Harris has been tested several times since that close contact, always testing negative, officials said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle