COVID-19 updates: 345 children currently hospitalized with coronavirus in Texas
That number was up from 282 on Thursday.
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 643,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.5 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 61.7% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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COVID-19 restrictions in place for Philadelphia’s Made In America Festival
This year’s Made In America festival over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia will go on with COVID-19 restrictions.
Despite surging delta variant cases and flooding from the Schuylkill River that inundated the Ben Franklin Parkway with water, the festival will continue, officials said.
"I think it's good for the city to have this kind of event, so we can celebrate a little bit even in the midst of potential tragedy. Jay-Z, Beyonce, the Biebs (Justin Bieber) is coming," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Friday. “It'll be fun for a change...be nice to have some fun, wouldn't it?"
Roc Nation, which is producing the two-day festival, said all attendees will need to wear masks. Attendees will also have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or printed proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to get in.
"The negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending the Made In America festival," said Roc Nation on the festival’s website.
Philadelphia officials also updated the city’s mask mandate in August to require masks at all non-seated outdoor events with over 1,000 attendees.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s wife Jacqueline released from hospital after COVID-19 treatment
Jacqueline L. Jackson, the wife of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr, has been released from the hospital after receiving treatment for COVID-19, her family said Friday.
"Our mother is leaving the Northwestern Memorial Hospital and coming home," the family said in a statement. "Our family is grateful to God and the medical team that treated her and that is allowing her body to continue to heal from the COVID-19 virus."
She had been in the ICU after testing positive for the virus. Jacqueline, 77, was not vaccinated.
Her husband Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, remains at The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab where he’s receiving intensive occupational and physical therapy. He has Parkinson's disease and was vaccinated, ABC Chicago station WLS reported.
"We urge all who have not yet been vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus to do so immediately,” the family said in a statement.
The family had announced the couple was hospitalized with COVID-19 on Aug. 21.
Stillwater, Oklahoma, declares state of emergency, overflow tents set up
The mayor of Stillwater, Oklahoma, declared a state of emergency for the city that started Friday due to a soaring number of hospital patients and a shortage of medical staff.
Overflow tents have been set up outside the Stillwater Medical Center Emergency Department to deal with the influx.
The state’s department of health is deploying the Medical Reserve Corps. and additional medical professionals to help in overflow tents.
“Our health professionals have incessantly warned us that we may reach the point when much-needed medical attention, COVID or non-COVID related, may not be available,” Mayor Will Joyce said in a release. “We have now reached that critical threshold where our hospital no longer has available staffed beds.”
“It is critical that each of us become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks when possible,” he added.
Officials said Stillwater Medical, which serves in a six-county area, is at full capacity.
In the crisis, residents and visitors who go to the hospital for treatment over the weekend may be diverted to nearby or out-of-state facilities.
There are zero ICU beds available across the four largest hospital systems in Oklahoma City, ABC local affiliate in Oklahoma City KOCO reported.
Concerns are mounting especially as Stillwater hosts events and activities that kick off Saturday and have the potential to attract an influx of 40,000 visitors.
Oscar De La Hoya hospitalized with COVID-19, will miss comeback fight
Hall of Fame boxer Oscar De La Hoya said on social media Friday he is hospitalized with COVID-19.
Due to his illness, he won't be able to fight former UFC champion Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 in Los Angeles, which would have been De La Hoya's first bout since 2008.
"Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, and I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support," De La Hoya, 48, said in an Instagram post, noting that he is fully vaccinated. "I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up. God bless everyone and stay safe."