Protests against mandated COVID-19 vaccines pop up across US

Pushback is happening over vaccine requirements and mask mandates.

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.

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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Aug 06, 2021, 1:53 AM EDT

There are now 387 positive cases at the Tokyo Olympics

As of Friday, there are 387 positive COVID-19 cases at the Tokyo Olympics, according to the Tokyo 2020 coronavirus positive case list.

This is an increase of 29 positive cases since Thursday.

All of the cases are either Tokyo 2020 contractors, Games-concerned personnel or media.

"Of the 726 U.S. Olympic delegates in Japan on Aug. 5, no COVID tests were confirmed positive based on daily results," the International Olympic Committee tweeted.

Aug 05, 2021, 8:53 PM EDT

Hawaii issues vaccine rules for state, county employees

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Thursday that all state and county employees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination by Aug. 16 -- or be subject to weekly testing. 

Those who don’t comply "could be subject to termination," Ige said.

It is unclear how many state and county workers are already vaccinated.

The mandate comes as the number of cases and hospitalizations in the state are "trending up dramatically," Ige said.

Maryland and Virginia announced similar measures earlier Thursday.

Aug 05, 2021, 4:12 PM EDT

Delta 'sweeping over Mississippi like a tsunami': Official

Mississippi is facing "a phenomenal increase in daily reported cases of COVID, and this is entirely attributable to the delta variant, which is sweeping over Mississippi like a tsunami," state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Thursday.

Usage of required face masks are posted throughout Jackson State University during an open COVID-19 vaccination site sponsored by the university and the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center in Jackson, Miss., Aug. 3, 2021.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Dobbs said 97% of new cases are among the unvaccinated, and that 89% of hospitalizations and 85% of deaths are unvaccinated.

Dobbs pleaded with the public to get vaccinated, stressing that the unvaccinated population is driving the current surge, but that vulnerable, vaccinated people are suffering the fallout.

"There is going to be some collateral damage, unfortunately, even folks who've done everything they can to protect themselves," Dobbs said.

"The minority of folks who are vaccinated and hospitalized are overrepresented by the older and those with weaker immune system, so we're seeing a pretty dramatic spillover effect from the transmission in the community to more vulnerable parts of our population," he said.

-ABC News' Soorin Kim

Aug 05, 2021, 3:51 PM EDT

New state employee vaccination rules issued in Virginia, Maryland

In Virginia, all 120,000 state employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday.

About 72% of employees are already vaccinated.

Anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated must get tested weekly, he said.

In Maryland, state employees at 48 state facilities must be vaccinated by Sept. 1, "or adhere to strict face covering requirements and submit to regular, ongoing COVID-19 testing," Gov. Larry Hogan said.

The 48 facilities on the list include the Department of Health, Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Public Safety and Corrections and Department of Veterans Affairs.

-ABC News' Jamie Aranoff

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