Nearly 74% of eligible Americans have at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose

In 13 states, over 80% of the population has at least one dose, CDC data shows.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: September 8, 2021, 4:08 PM EDT

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

More than 655,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.6 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 62.7% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Sep 08, 2021, 4:08 PM EDT

Judge allows Florida school districts to keep mandating masks while state appeals

In a blow to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had banned mask mandates in schools, Tallahassee Judge John Cooper ruled to lift the stay Wednesday, preventing the state from enforcing the ban as an appeals court sorts out the legality. 

The stay applies to Cooper's ruling last month that told the state it couldn't punish districts for requiring masks.

Students inside a classroom during the first day of classes at a public school in Miami Lakes, Fla., Aug. 23, 2021.
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

 

Carol Basilio greets her daughter Giovanna outside of iPrep Academy on the first day of school in Miami, Aug. 23, 2021.
Lynne Sladky/AP, FILE

 

DeSantis has struggled to rein in the state's largest school systems as they implement mask mandates in defiance of state law. 

At least 13 districts, including Florida's six largest, currently have mask requirements in place. The Florida Department of Education has threatened to withhold the salaries of school board members in most of these districts and has begun doing so in at least two cases. 

None of the districts have indicated they plan to change course in the face of the threats. 

A spokesperson for the governor, Taryn Fenske, said in a statement, "Today we plan to file our emergency motion to reinstate the stay, and we anticipate the appellate court will rule quickly, much like during the school re-opening case last year." 

-ABC News' Will McDuffie

Sep 08, 2021, 3:53 PM EDT

Biden to lay out next steps on testing, vaccine requirements, school safety

President Joe Biden will lay out a six-prong strategy to combat the delta variant on Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

"He's going to outline the next phase in the fight against the virus and what that looks like, including measures to work with the public and private sector, building on the steps that we've already announced, the steps we've taken over the last few months, requiring more vaccinations, boosting important testing measures and more, making it safer for kids to go to school," Psaki said Wednesday.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Sep 08, 2021, 2:38 PM EDT

Over 95% of US counties reporting high community transmission

More than 95% of U.S. counties are now reporting high community transmission, the highest level since CDC tracking began, according to federal data.

Two people, with and without a mask, stand near a "Free Flue & COVID-19 vaccines here" sign at CVS in New York, Sept. 06, 2021.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

The average daily case rate (per 100,000) is now higher among children ages 5 to 17 than all adult age groups.

Death rates are continuing to surge with about 1,000 Americans dying from COVID-19 each day, according to federal data.

Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 made up about one-third -- 34.4% -- of the patients hospitalized as of Aug. 28. 

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Sep 08, 2021, 1:30 PM EDT

Fauci: 3rd shot likely going to become standard regimen

In an interview with the podcast “In the Bubble,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told former White House adviser Andy Slavitt that he predicts three doses will become the standard dosing regimen for COVID-19 vaccines going forward.

Fauci cited new data from Israel that vaccine protection against hospitalization dropped in recent months from some 97% to 77% or 78%.

A healthcare worker fills a syringe with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a community vaccination event in Los Angeles, Aug. 11, 2021.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

The vaccines still provide extraordinary protection, but the combination of the delta variant and waning immunity with time are causes for concern, he said.

Fauci added that that he thinks it will probably be the end of 2022 or early 2023 before much of the world is vaccinated.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

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