Unvaccinated people 11 times more likely to die in COVID-19 delta surge
The unvaccinated were six times more likely to get the virus in August.
The United States has been facing a COVID-19 surge as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.
More than 722,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.8 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 66.5% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC.
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COVID No. 1 cause of death for 35- to 54-year-olds in September
COVID-19 was the leading of death among people ages 35 to 54 -- and the second-leading cause overall -- in September, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Peterson Center on Healthcare.
The research also estimates that since June more than 90,000 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 could have been prevented with vaccines, and more than half of those occurred last month.
In January, COVID-19 was the nation's No. 1 cause of death, the analysis found. In July, before the delta surge, COVID-19 briefly dropped to eighth.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Daily deaths in US about 1,300 as hospitalizations decline
Hospital admissions for COVID-19 have dropped about 10% in the last week, but, according to federal data, the virus is still killing about 1,300 Americans every day -- more than this same time last year.
More than 114.5 million Americans remain completely unvaccinated, about 66.3 million of whom are over the age of 12 and eligible, according to federal data.
States to keep an eye on are Michigan, Minnesota and Colorado, which are currently seeing notable upticks in new cases, according to federal data.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Global deaths at lowest level in nearly 1 year: WHO
The number of reported weekly COVID-19 deaths continues to decline and is now at the lowest levels worldwide in nearly one year, the World Health Organization said.
That's with nearly 50,000 still being reported per week, "and the real number is certainly higher," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "Of course deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines."
Tedros said three countries have not started vaccinating: Burundi, Eritrea and North Korea.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou
US to lift land-border restrictions on Canada, Mexico with proof of vaccination
The U.S. is moving forward to lift restrictions for foreign travelers coming into the country over land-border crossings as long as they have proof of COVID-19 vaccination, according to multiple senior Biden administration officials.
The news follows a decision about two months ago from Canadian authorities to allow vaccinated American travelers to enter by land. It also follows the announcement last month of a vaccine requirement for foreign air travelers coming into the U.S.
Current air travel requirements also include presenting a negative COVID-19 test while land border requirements remain more restrictive for anyone deemed “nonessential.”
The first stage of the land-border changes is expected in early November, the officials said, when travelers deemed "nonessential" will be able to enter the U.S. with proof of vaccination. Nonessential travel, including recreation, family visits and tourism, was previously restricted at all land-border crossings.
All travelers, both essential and nonessential, will be required to have proof of vaccination starting in early January.
Unlike the requirements for air travel, this new set of restrictions does not have a testing component, the officials said.
Customs and Border Protection will enforce the requirements at U.S. land ports of entry where they will ask about vaccination status and refer travelers to a more thorough inspection on a case-by-case basis.
-ABC News' Quinn Owen
What to expect at this week's meetings on Moderna, J&J boosters
On Thursday and Friday, the FDA's independent advisory panel is set to discuss and vote on whether to authorize Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters for people 18 and older. If approved, the FDA and CDC both still need to sign off. The earliest that could happen is Oct. 22.
An initial and nonbinding vote on the Moderna booster has been scheduled for around 4:45 p.m. ET Thursday. Moderna's own scientific summary posted on Tuesday argues for a booster shot with a half dose given six months after the second shot.
An initial and nonbinding vote on the J&J booster has been scheduled for around 3:15 p.m. ET. Friday. Johnson & Johnson’s summary posted Tuesday makes the argument for a second shot, same as the first dose, given roughly six months after the single-shot vaccine.
On Friday, the National Institutes of Health will also present data on whether it's safe and effective to mix-and-match booster doses.
-ABC News' Sony Salzman, Eric M. Strauss, Sasha Pezenik