COVID-19 updates: Classes in Chicago canceled for 4th day

Chicago Public Schools has been in talks with teachers over COVID-19 safety.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 837,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 62.5% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


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LA County requires businesses to provide N95, KN95 masks to indoor employees

The Los Angeles County Department of Health updated its COVID-19 safety measures Wednesday and mandated that all of the county's businesses must provide N95 or KN95 masks to employees who work indoors.

"Well-fitting medical grade masks, and surgical masks," are also acceptable under the order.

"Everyone needs to be sensible about how to protect themselves and those they love by layering on protections whenever around non-household members," LA County's health director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, said in a statement. "At work, this means upgrading your mask if you work indoors and you are in contact with other workers or members of the public."


CDC panel votes yes on boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel voted Wednesday to approve COVID-19 boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will likely to sign off on the move later Wednesday night.

MORE: CDC panel recommends Pfizer boosters for 12-15 year olds, final call expected from CDC director

Shots could go into arms as soon as Thursday morning. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer boosters on Monday, paving the way for the CDC’s final green light.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett


2022 Grammy Awards postponed due to omicron variant

The 2022 Grammy Awards have been postponed due to the surge in COVID-19 cases linked to the omicron variant.

"After careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners, thx have postponed the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show," CBS and the Recording Academy said in a joint statement.

The statement continued, "The health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience, and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce our show remains our top priority.  Given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant, holding the show on January 31 simply contains too many risks."

A future date for the Grammys has yet to be announced.

The awards show was scheduled to be held at the Arena in Los Angeles and hosted by "The Daily Show's" Trevor Noah.

This is the second year in a row that the Grammys has been postponed. Last year, the show was held in March after its original date was canceled in January.


COVID vaccinations in US drop 42% over last three weeks

The number of COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S. has declined over the last three weeks despite the surging number of cases due to the omicron variant.

In the past, surges have driven Americans to get vaccinated. However, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the average number of total doses administered has fallen 42% since Dec. 14.

An average of 304,000 Americans are currently receiving their first dose every day and 165,000 are reaching "full vaccination" status.

This is a drop from three weeks prior, when 455,000 were getting their first dose every day and 402,000 were reaching "full vaccination" status.

Additionally, the average number of people receiving booster shots every day has declined to 623,000 from more than one million.

A total of 67.4 million eligible Americans -- aged five and older -- remain completely unvaccinated.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos


Chicago cancels classes after teachers vote for remote learning 

Chicago Public Schools canceled its Wednesday classes after the Chicago Teachers Union voted against in-person learning amid a wave of COVID-19 cases.

All classes, both in-person and virtual, and all after-school activities have been cancelled.

"I understand your frustration and deeply regret this interruption to your child's learning," said Pedro Martinez, chief executive of the schools. "We want out children back in their classrooms as soon as possible and will continue working with the CTU to reach an agreement that addressed their concerns and that is in the best interest of all in our CPS community, especially our children."  


About 88% of the union's leadership and 73% of members voted on Tuesday to return to remote education, the union said in a statement.  


"To the parents and guardians of this city, we want you to know that when you put your children in our care we put their well-being and safety first," the union said in a statement. "We fight for your children like they are our own, because they are. As this pandemic continues, we will do everything in our power to ensure that our classrooms are the safest and healthiest places for your children to learn, thrive and grow."

Teachers were being locked out of their Google Classrooms, the union said on Twitter.