COVID updates: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tests positive

He said he has mild symptoms and will be quarantining for five days.

Alex Brandon/AP

ByMary Kekatos, Ivan Pereira, Emily Shapiro, Kiara Alfonseca, and Meredith Deliso

Last Updated: January 3, 2022, 12:42 AM EST

As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 825,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 62% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Dec 29, 2021, 7:35 PM EST

Fauci backs CDC isolation recommendations

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared on ABC News Live Wednesday and shared his thoughts on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's decision to lower its recommended isolation period to five days for asymptomatic patients.

Fauci also said that while new evidence shows omicron may be less severe than delta, people should still be cautious of contracting and spreading the virus.

"You can get people safely back out in a five day period so long as they wear a mask, if they are without symptoms. That is the science," he told ABC News Live. "The impact of that is to try and not be in a situation where we essentially have to shut down the entire country."

Fauci also said it would be too premature to be less worried based on evidence that omicron may be less severe.

"We are heartened by the fact that from the South African data, the data from the U.K., and the accumulating data in the United States that it looks like it is less severe," he said. "It's much more transmissible, which is something you need to take seriously."

Dec 29, 2021, 6:10 PM EST

FDA authorizes 2 new at-home COVID-19 test kits

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization to two over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.

The tests are manufactured by SD Biosensor and Siemens.

"Combined, it is estimated the companies can produce tens of millions of tests per month for use in the U.S.," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

-ABC News' Sony Salzman

Dec 29, 2021, 4:01 PM EST

3 Americans testing positive every second

The U.S. reported more than 1.9 million new cases this week, which equals about three Americans testing positive for COVID-19 every second.

People get tested for COVID-19 at a testing site in Washington, D.C., Dec. 29, 2021.
Eva Hambach/AFP via Getty Images

Health workers administer COVID-19 PCR tests at an outdoor testing site aside the Long Island Sound, Dec. 28, 2021, in Stamford, Conn.
John Moore/Getty Images

The U.S. is now averaging 277,000 new cases each day, shattering the previous record average from Jan. 11, 2021, which was 250,000 cases each day, according to federal data.

Although this significantly high number is in large part due to the latest surge, it’s also attributable to the soaring demand for tests and backlogs of data following Christmas weekend.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Dec 29, 2021, 3:01 PM EST

30% of New York City's EMS out on COVID sick leave

In New York City, 30% of emergency medical workers and 17% of firefighters are out on leave tied to COVID-19 -- and the fire department is reminding New Yorkers to only call 911 in a true emergency.

"If you are not severely ill, allow first responders to assist those most in need," the FDNY said in a video message.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department has canceled regular days off for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 due to COVID-19 and staffing needs for New Year's Eve.