COVID updates: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tests positive
He said he has mild symptoms and will be quarantining for five days.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 825,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
About 62% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Latest headlines:
US daily case average nearly triples in 1 month
More than 84,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 -- a 40,000 jump over the last seven weeks, according to federal data.
In the last month, federal data shows the nation's daily case average has nearly tripled.
A soaring demand for tests and a backlog of holiday reporting drove Monday's case total to 440,000 -- the nation's highest one-day total ever, according to federal data.
While this high reflects the latest omicron surge, it's also very likely skewed due to a backlog in reporting over the Christmas weekend and an increase in demand for tests.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Decision on boosters for kids 12-15 could be made in 'days to weeks ahead'
The FDA and CDC could decide on boosters for children ages 12 to 15 in "the days to weeks ahead," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told CNN's "New Day" Wednesday.
The CDC authorized the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds on May 12, meaning some of those kids are now over six months past their second dose, which was when boosters were recommended for adults.
Walensky also noted that vaccine manufacturers are working to acquire data for children under the age of five, but an authorization "will not be in the month ahead."
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Vaccine mandate for domestic air travel not being considered now: CDC
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told NPR that a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel is not currently under consideration.
"Domestic flights has been a topic of conversation, but that is not something we're revisiting right now," Walensky said Tuesday.
This comes after Dr. Anthony Fauci told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday that a vaccine requirement for domestic air travel should be "seriously" considered.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
France sets new daily case record
France recorded more than 208,000 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, setting a new daily case record, Health Minister Olivier Véran said.
By that tally, "every second, two French people" have tested positive, Véran said.
-ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud
San Francisco cancels New Year's Eve fireworks
San Francisco officials canceled the city's New Year's Eve fireworks show, citing concerns about the spread of the omicron variant.
"After closely monitoring local health indicators, the decision to cancel is a proactive measure that will best protect SF & essential front-line workers," the city's department of emergency management said in a statement on Tuesday.
About 84% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated and 55% have had a booster shot, according to city health data. But omicron still "poses a significant risk," officials said in a statement.
“While we are all understandably eager to ring in a new year with San Francisco’s customary New Year’s Eve fireworks show, we must remain vigilant in doing all we can to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant,” Mayor London Breed said.