COVID-19 updates: More than 10,000 new deaths reported in US in 1 week

Some of the highest death tolls are in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Marlene Lenthang, Meredith Deliso, and Morgan Winsor

Last Updated: September 20, 2021, 5:50 AM EDT

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

More than 672,000 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 63.6% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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More than 10,000 new deaths reported in US in 1 week

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Sep 15, 2021, 5:58 PM EDT

CDC committee meeting to discuss booster shots

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is planning to meet on Sept. 22 and 23 and is prepared to discuss COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

This will delay the potential start date of boosters until at least late next week, past the president's planned start date for boosters on Sept. 20.

The White House acknowledged that the start date is ultimately up to the CDC and Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA advisory panel is currently scheduled to hold a public hearing on boosters for the Pfizer vaccine and will have a non-binding vote later that day.

If the FDA approves, the ACIP will discuss and vote on recommendations, such as who should get the boosters and when.

The CDC director will make the ultimate decision on the boosters following the ACIP recommendations.

-ABC News' Eric Strauss

Sep 15, 2021, 4:00 PM EDT

Moderna makes the case for boosters

Moderna on Wednesday released its own analysis of various studies, making the case that the company's original vaccine appears to generate the strongest protection among the three currently authorized vaccines, but also saying people who got their vaccine will also need a booster six months later.

Like Pfizer, Moderna is requesting authorization for a booster dose six months after the primary vaccination based on evidence that boosters are safe and generate immune response, and based on newly published data from its phase 3 trial showing a lower risk of breakthrough infections among people vaccinated eight months ago compared to people vaccinated 13 months ago.

Unlike Pfizer, Moderna’s third booster will be a half-dose. Moderna says its data shows that boosting with a half-shot seems to generate more than enough immune response.

-ABC News' Sony Salzman

Sep 15, 2021, 3:18 PM EDT

9 states have more hospitalizations than any point in pandemic

In the last five weeks, the U.S. hasn't reported a single day with fewer than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases, according to federal data. In the nearly six months between Feb. 7 and July 29, there was not a single day with more than 100,000 new cases.

Nine states -- Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia -- currently have more patients hospitalized than at any other point in the pandemic, according to federal data.

But the CDC says hospital admissions will likely decrease over the next four weeks.

Houston Fire Department paramedics transport a woman with breathing difficulties to a hospital on Sept. 14, 2021 in Houston.
John Moore/Getty Images

Death rates are also continuing to surge, with approximately 1,260 Americans dying each day -- up by nearly 50% in the last month, according to the data.

A worker walks past flags that were planted as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Sept. 15, 2021. — A worker walks past white flags that were planted as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Sept. 15, 2021.
Patrick Semansky/AP

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Sep 15, 2021, 2:48 PM EDT

LA County to require vaccine, negative test for clubs, concerts

Los Angeles County will require vaccination or proof of a negative test for events with more than 10,000 people, including clubs, concerts and sporting events.