Nearly 74% of eligible Americans have at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose
In 13 states, over 80% of the population has at least one dose, CDC data shows.
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 655,000 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 62.7% 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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Milwaukee Public Schools to require COVID-19 vaccination for staff
All employees of Milwaukee Public Schools must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by Nov. 1, unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, school board members voted unanimously on Thursday night.
The board also decided that staff who qualify for an exemption must take COVID-19 tests twice weekly. Anyone who does not comply with the new vaccine mandate or is not exempt would be placed on unpaid leave and ultimately could lose their job.
Students are not required to get vaccinated, but the board approved monetary incentives of $100 for those who are 12 and older and can provide proof of vaccination by the Nov. 1 deadline.
LA school district to mandate vaccine for students
The Los Angeles Unified School District's Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday to require the COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible students.
All students ages 12 and up will be required to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 10, 2022, unless they have a "medical or other exemption," said the district, which is the second-largest in the nation with over 600,000 students.
All teachers and staff are already required to be vaccinated by Oct. 15.
"Today's decision furthers our longstanding commitment to ensure the safety of our students, families, and staff," Board President Kelly Gonez said in a statement. "The vaccine is the single best way to protect students and schools from COVID-19."
DHS increases fines for not wearing masks on airplanes, public transportation
The Department of Homeland Security announced it is doubling monetary penalties for those caught in violation of the federal mask mandate aboard various transportation methods, including in airports, on planes and passenger trains.
The new fines, which take effect Friday, will be $500 to $1,000 for first-time offenders and $1,000 to $3,000 for second-time offenders.
"We appreciate the majority of travelers each day who voluntarily follow the requirement, but find this action necessary to maximize the protections for those who use and work within the transportation system, and to contain COVID-19," Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske said in a statement. "By doubling the range of penalties, we seek to reinforce the importance of voluntary adherence."
The doubled fines are part of President Joe Biden's six-point plan to fight COVID announced Thursday. He also announced the mask mandate on public transportation would be extended until Jan. 18, 2022.
There have been 3,057 "mask-related incidents" on planes since the beginning of the year, as of Sept. 7, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
"I'm announcing that the Transportation Safety Administration, the TSA, will double the fines on travelers that refuse to mask," Biden said during a speech Thursday. "If you break the rules, be prepared to pay. And by the way, show some respect. The anger you see on television toward flight attendants and others doing their jobs is wrong. It’s ugly."
Biden to unvaccinated Americans: 'The time for waiting is over'
President Joe Biden addressed the millions of Americans who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 while outlining his new six-part strategy to combat the delta variant.
"My message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see?" Biden said during remarks from the White House Thursday evening. "We've made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. The vaccine has FDA approval. Over 200 million Americans have gotten at least one shot. We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us. So, please, do the right thing."
The White House plan includes a requirement that all federal government employees and contractors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Department of Labor is also developing an emergency rule for businesses with 100 or more employees to require that their workers be vaccinated or undergo testing at least once a week.
The measures "are going to take time to have full impact," Biden said. "But if we implement them, I believe and the scientists indicate, that the months ahead we can reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans, decrease hospitalizations and deaths and allow our children to go to school safely and keep our economy strong by keeping businesses open."
"The time for waiting is over," he said.