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.

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, 10:39 AM EDT

DC theaters unite, require vaccinations for audiences

Thirteen theaters in Washington, D.C., have joined forces to require audiences to supply proof of vaccination in order to attend live performances at indoor venues.

In addition to the vaccination requirement, masks will be required inside the theaters. Medical and religious exemptions to the rule will be accepted, but those patrons will have to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test in order to gain entry. For children younger than 12, patrons should contact the theater directly for more information about individual policy.

More theaters are expected to join the cohort in comings weeks, according to Theatre Washington, an alliance of theater organizations and supporters.

Aug 06, 2021, 9:18 AM EDT

Low staffing and burnout from COVID surge strain Texas hospitals

A labor analysis by the Texas Workforce Commission found that there are 23,000 openings for registered nurses in Texas and no one to fill them, the Texas Tribune reported Thursday.

The key factor: burnout. Nurses are leaving the profession due to stress from working under COVID-19 conditions for 19 months. And with the delta variant surging across the country, particularly in places like Texas, with lower-than-average vaccination rates, there's no end in sight for the state's health care workers.

New cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all on the rise, according to state data.

Aug 06, 2021, 9:30 AM EDT

United to require all US employees be vaccinated by September

All U.S.-based United employees will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by September and must upload their vaccination card to the company website, the airline announced Friday. The move is the strongest vaccination requirement a U.S. airline has taken so far.

"For those employees who are already vaccinated -- and for those employees who get vaccinated and upload their records to Flying Together before September 20th -- we’ll offer an additional day of pay," Scott Kirby and Brett Hart, the CEO and president of United, wrote in a memo to employees.

A United Airlines passenger plane at Kingsford Smith Airport on July 11, 2021 in Sydney.
James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Employees will have until five weeks after Sept. 20 or five weeks after the Food and Drug Administration fully authorizes a COVID-19 vaccine to upload their cards. All three vaccines in the U.S. are currently being used under emergency use authorization.

-ABC News' Mina Kaji

Aug 06, 2021, 4:31 AM EDT

Tokyo sees 4,515 new positive cases

There are 4,515 new positive coronavirus cases in Tokyo as of Friday, according to the city's COVID-19 information website.

It's a 152.7% increase since last Friday.

Of the new cases, 141 are severe and four have turned fatal.

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