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.
The number of cases from the popular tourist destination have been increasing since the Fourth of July weekend.
Of these cases, 469 individuals are Massachusetts residents, 199 of whom reside in Provincetown, Town Manager Alex Morse wrote in a Facebook post.
The remaining individuals who tested positive reside in other states, or jurisdictions, he said.
There have been no reported deaths linked to the cluster so far, however, three people linked to it have been hospitalized. One of the patients was vaccinated, according to town officials.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Jul 27, 2021, 4:10 PM EDT
CDC reverses guidance on masks for vaccinated people
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday reversed its mask guidance for vaccinated people due to the delta variant surge.
People wear face coverings as they gather in Union Station on July 19, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE
Vaccinated Americans should now wear masks inside if they’re in places with substantial or high transmission, the CDC said.
A restaurant worker holds his face mask in Biloxi, Miss., March 5, 2021.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP, FILE
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said data show that on "rare occasions, some vaccinated people with the delta variant … may be contagious and spread the virus to others. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendations."
Walensky added, "This moment -- and most importantly -- the associated illness, suffering and death, could have been avoided with higher vaccination coverage in this country."
People wear masks as they pass through a pedestrian subway as cases of the infectious coronavirus Delta variant continue to rise in New York, July 26, 2021.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
In May, the CDC said vaccinated Americans could stop wearing masks indoors.
The CDC also said Tuesday that masks should be worn in schools by all students, teachers, staff and visitors, even for those who are vaccinated. The CDC said students should return to full-time in-person learning this year with prevention strategies in place.
President Joe Biden in a statement called the CDC's new rules "another step on our journey to defeating this virus."
"While we have seen an increase in vaccinations in recent days, we still need to do better," he added.
-ABC News’ Anne Flaherty and Eric Strauss
Jul 27, 2021, 3:42 PM EDT
NYC hospital mandating vaccines for staff
New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery is requiring its staff be vaccinated as of Sept. 15.
Only staff with a medical or religious reason will be exempt, the hospital said Tuesday.
Jul 27, 2021, 2:03 PM EDT
Cal State requiring vaccinations
California State University, the nation’s largest university system that’s home to nearly 500,000 students, will require vaccinations for in-person students, staff and faculty.
A healthcare worker administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a drive-through clinic at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Northridge, Calif., May 13, 2021.
Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
"The current surge in COVID cases due to the spread of the highly infectious delta variant is an alarming new factor that we must consider as we look to maintain the health and well-being of students, employees and visitors to our campuses this fall," CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro said in a statement Tuesday.
