'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.

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Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jul 30, 2021, 10:45 AM EDT

6 passengers test positive on cruise ship

Six passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas ship have tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing, the cruise line said Friday.

In this March 31, 2020, file photo, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Adventure of the Seas sits anchored off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
ZUMA Wire via Newscom, FILE

Four of the passengers -- who were not traveling together -- are vaccinated. The other two are unvaccinated minors who were traveling together, the cruise line said.

One person has mild symptoms. The other five have no symptoms, the cruise line said.

"The guests were immediately quarantined, and their immediate travel party and all close contacts were traced and all tested negative," Royal Caribbean said. "Each guest and their immediate travel parties disembarked in Freeport, The Bahamas, and separately traveled home via private transportation."

This cruise started in the Bahamas on July 25. Everyone over 16 must be fully vaccinated and test negative before boarding, the cruise line said.

-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney

Jul 30, 2021, 10:30 AM EDT

Broadway audiences must be vaccinated

As Broadway gears up for its return in September, the Broadway League announced Friday that everyone attending a show must be vaccinated and wear a mask.

Guests will need to show proof of vaccination when they enter the theater.

Fans line up outside the St. James Theater, the first venue on the Great White Way to welcome back audiences, on July 10, 2021.
George Etheredge/The New York Times via Redux, FILE

This rule applies through October 2021 and may change in November.

All performers, staff and backstage crew also must be vaccinated.

Jul 30, 2021, 5:29 AM EDT

New Yorkers getting 1st dose to receive $100 incentive

Starting Friday, New Yorkers who receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at any city-run site will get a $100 incentive.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement during a press briefing Wednesday.

"We will say thank you. We'll say we're really glad that you got vaccinated for yourself, for your family, for your community," de Blasio said. "And here's $100 to thank you for doing the right thing and to encourage people."

The mayor said that New Yorkers getting vaccinated will not only get the cash, they'll also be able to do "everything else that's wonderful in this city, including the amazing concerts coming up. You can't go to those concerts unless you're vaccinated."

Jul 30, 2021, 4:53 AM EDT

Japan to extend coronavirus state of emergency covering 3 of Tokyo's neighboring prefectures

Japan's government will put in place a coronavirus state of emergency covering three of Tokyo's neighboring prefectures and Osaka on Monday, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Tokyo and Okinawa's declarations will remain in place.

The news comes as case numbers in Japan continue to rise amid the Olympics.

As of Friday, there are 3,300 new positive cases in Tokyo, according to the Tokyo government's COVID-19 information website. Of those 3,300 cases, 88 are severe and two have turned fatal.

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