COVID-19 updates: US daily death average falls below 2,000 for 1st time in month

The average declined by 15.3% to 1,920 virus-related deaths every day.

ByMary Kekatos and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: February 21, 2022, 9:45 AM EST

As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.9 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 938,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 64.7% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Feb 21, 2022, 9:45 AM EST

Australia reopens its borders after nearly two years

Australia welcomed back international travelers Monday after the country reopened its borders for the first time in nearly two years.

The country had banned most non-residents without travel exemptions from visiting since March 2020.

PHOTO: Passengers are welcomed on arrival at Sydney's International Airport on Febr. 21, 2022 in Sydney. Australia is welcoming fully-vaccinated international travellers for the first time since March, 2020.
Passengers are welcomed by staff on arrival at Sydney's International Airport on Febr. 21, 2022 in Sydney. Australia is welcoming fully-vaccinated international travellers for the first time since closing its borders to all non-citizens and non-residents in March 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

"From 21 February 2022, all visa holders who are fully vaccinated for international travel purposes can travel to Australia without a travel exemption," according to a statement from the government's Department of Home Affairs.

"Unvaccinated visa holders will still need to be in an exempt category or hold an individual travel exemption to enter Australia," the statement continued.

According to Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan, 56 international flights will arrive in Australia Monday, including from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Japan.

Feb 21, 2022, 7:24 AM EST

New York delays booster mandate for health care workers

New York health officials announced the state will delay enforcement of its booster requirement for health care workers in an effort to avoid potential staffing issues.

The mandate had been scheduled to go into effect on Monday.

"While we are making progress with 75% of staff received or are willing to receive their booster, the reality is that not enough healthcare workers will be boosted by next week's requirement in order to avoid substantial staffing issues in our already overstressed healthcare system," State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a statement on Friday. "That is why we are announcing additional efforts to work closely with healthcare facilities and ensure that our healthcare workforce is up to date on their doses."

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaks during a COVID-19 press conference on Feb. 09, 2022 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

In three months, the state will reassess whether additional steps will be needed to increase booster uptake among healthcare workers, officials said. The original vaccination requirement for healthcare workers remains in effect.

"The vaccine and booster are critical tools to keep both healthcare workers and their patients safe, and we continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated and receive a booster dose when eligible," Bassett said.

The state said it will work closely with hospitals to increase booster rates among healthcare workers.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulous

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