Nearly 600 patients wait for hospital beds in Houston following surge in COVID cases

Pediatric COVID-19-related hospital admissions in the U.S. have now seen their steepest and most significant increase since the onset of the pandemic, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The hospital rate is now equal to the highest point of the pandemic (January 2021).

Florida has the highest number of COVID-19-related pediatric hospitalizations, with 179 patients receiving care, according to federal data. Texas follows closely behind with 161 confirmed pediatric patients.

Severe illness due to COVID-19 remains "uncommon" among children, according to a weekly report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA). However, the two organizations warned that there is an urgent need to collect more data on long-term impacts of the pandemic on children, "including ways the virus may harm the long-term physical health of infected children, as well as its emotional and mental health effects."

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

The superintendent of schools in Leon County, Florida, which includes Tallahassee, announced Monday that parents cannot opt their kids out of wearing masks when the school year begins Wednesday.

"The goal is to keep our children out of the hospital," superintendent Rocky Hanna said. "Why would you not air on the side of caution?"

An emergency order by the Florida Department of Health over the weekend allows districts to let parents opt out of mask mandates without giving a reason.

By defying state rules, Hanna risks consequences from the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order on July 30 gave the education commissioner the right to pull funds from schools that fail to protect "parents' rights ... to make healthcare decisions for their minor children."

Hanna issued sharp words about any attempt to deny money for his school district."Any time you take money away from schools, you hurt children," he said.

DeSantis' press secretary, Christina Pushaw, told ABC News after Hanna's announcement that the financial consequences of such a breach of state rules would likely mean withholding the salary of the superintendent or school board members -- not money from kids.

-ABC News' Will McDuffie

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will request approval that the COVID-19 vaccine become mandatory for all U.S. military service members by mid-September, a U.S. official confirmed.

-ABC News' Luiz Martinez

Starting Monday, France's residents and visitors must show a "Pass Sanitaire" -- or COVID health pass -- that gives the individual's vaccination status or negative test result. The pass is needed for long-distance travel by plane or train and to get into businesses including restaurants, malls and retirement homes.

The passes can be digital or in paper form. It's not required for kids under 12, but after Aug. 30, it will be required for those children ages 12 to 17.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou