'Steady increase' in vaccines in past month, White House says

The U.S. saw its largest single-day increase in nearly nine months Friday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Morgan Winsor, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: August 2, 2021, 7:10 AM EDT

The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.

More than 613,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.2 million people have died worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 57.9% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC on Tuesday, citing new science on the transmissibility of the delta variant, changed its mask guidance to now recommend everyone in areas with substantial or high levels of transmission -- vaccinated or not -- wear a face covering in public, indoor settings.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jul 26, 2021, 2:44 PM EDT

Dept. of Veterans Affairs mandates vaccine

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced Monday that COVID-19 vaccines will be mandatory for the department’s health care personnel.

Four VA employees, all of whom were unvaccinated, died in recent weeks, the department said. At least three of those cases were linked to the delta variant.

VA employees will have eight weeks to be fully vaccinated.

McDonough said this mandate is "the best way to keep Veterans safe, especially as the Delta variant spreads across the country."

-ABC News’ Cindy Smith

Jul 26, 2021, 2:06 PM EDT

Unvaccinated NYC municipal workers will have to get weekly testing

All unvaccinated New York City municipal workers will have to get weekly testing by the start of school in September, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio's office.

People wear masks, as cases of the infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to rise, in Washington Square Park in New York City, July 22, 2021.
Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

The new requirement will apply to all city workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers. The new rule will go into effect on Sept. 13, when students are expected to return to public schools.

The New York Police Department has a 43% vaccination rate while about 55% of New York City Fire Department employees are vaccinated.

Workers in publicly run residential or congregate care facilities, like nursing homes, must present proof of vaccination even earlier, on Aug. 16.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a similar mandate on Monday. Beginning on Aug. 9, state employees and health care workers must show proof of vaccination or get tested regularly.

In California, 75% of those eligible have received at least one dose.

"Everyone that can get vaccinated—should," Newsom tweeted.

-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky

Jul 26, 2021, 11:23 AM EDT

Savannah reinstates mask mandate indoors

An indoor mask mandate has been reinstated in Savannah, Georgia, effective immediately, amid a steep rise in the daily number of COVID-19 cases, Mayor Van Johnson said.

Tourists enjoy downtown Savannah, Georgia on March 3, 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

The increase is likely due to the delta variant, relatively low vaccination rates and gatherings where people let their guard down, officials said.

"Are we effectively punishing those who did the right thing who took the vaccine?" the mayor said. "Yes, we probably are."

To those still hesitant to get the vaccine, Johnson said, "The wait and see time is over."

-ABC News’ Alexandra Faul

Jul 26, 2021, 10:49 AM EDT

Orlando area in ‘crisis mode’ as cases skyrocket

Orange County, Florida, which includes the city of Orlando, is in "crisis mode" as COVID-19 cases skyrocket, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Monday.

The county is now seeing 1,000 new cases per day – which is what was recorded there during the highest peak in 2020, Demings said.

-ABC News’ Ben Stein

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