Protests against mandated COVID-19 vaccines pop up across US

Pushback is happening over vaccine requirements and mask mandates.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Erin Schumaker, and Marlene Lenthang

Last Updated: August 8, 2021, 11:56 PM EDT

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

More than 615,000 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.

MORE: Fauci warns 'things are going to get worse' with COVID

Just 58.4% 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 last week, 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.

Aug 03, 2021, 2:05 PM EDT

US sees highest number of hospitalizations since February

According to federal data, nearly 56,000 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19 across the U.S., marking the highest number of patients receiving care since February.

Ninety-one percent of Americans are now living in high (a seven-day new case rate ≥100) or substantial (a seven-day new case rate between 50-99.99) community transmission in the last week.

Seven states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina -- have high or substantial community transmission in every county.

Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, and Alabama currently have the nation's highest case rates, followed by Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma.

-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Aug 03, 2021, 1:07 PM EDT

Texas sees demand for vaccinations skyrocket

In Texas, the demand for vaccines is skyrocketing. The number of daily doses has jumped from about 44,000 (just after the 4th of July) to 73,000 as of Monday, said Chris Van Duesen, spokesperson for the state’s Department of State Health Services.

Patients check-in before getting vaccinated at a vaccination site at a senior center, March 29, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas.
Sergio Flores/Getty Images, FILE

Aug 03, 2021, 11:25 AM EDT

Data ‘tipping’ to show delta more serious for kids than past variants

National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins told CNN Tuesday the data is "tipping" toward showing how the delta variant is more serious for children than past variants.

A student looks through a fence at a school in Manhattan's Spanish Harlem neighborhood, July 6, 2021.
The New York Times via Redux

Collins listed studies from Singapore, Scotland and Canada that "certainly tilts the balance in that direction" but made clear that more data is needed.

Collins also added that part of the reason the U.S. is seeing more children in hospitals is because they're part of the unvaccinated population and he doesn't want to "overstate the confidence."

-ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett

Aug 03, 2021, 10:23 AM EDT

NYC to require proof of vaccination to eat inside

New York City will soon require vaccinations for workers and customers for indoor dining, indoor fitness facilities and indoor entertainment facilities, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.