Protests against mandated COVID-19 vaccines pop up across US
Pushback is happening over vaccine requirements and mask mandates.
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 615,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.2 million people have died worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 58.4% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC last week, citing new science on the transmissibility of the delta variant, changed its mask guidance to now recommend everyone in areas with substantial or high levels of transmission -- vaccinated or not -- wear a face covering in public, indoor settings.
Latest headlines:
Americans increasingly concerned about delta, polls find
New polling finds that more Americans are worried about the delta variant, which now makes up nearly all new cases in the United States.
According to an Axios/Ipsos poll, 78% of adult respondents reported being "concerned" about delta's spread, with 50% reporting that they were "extremely concerned" or "very concerned" about the new variant, representing a six point rise since late June.
A separate Kaiser Family Foundation poll, conducted in July, found that 55% of respondents believed that new variants would cause the pandemic to worsen in their area. Thirty-six percent believed they would personally get sick from a new variant.
-ABC News' Gary Langer
NJ school mask mandate reinstated: Governor
Public school students in New Jersey will be required to wear masks when school starts up again, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday.
The rules, which will apply to K-12 students, are a departure for Murphy, who previously said school mask mandates would be left up to each district.
"I want as much as anybody else in our state to see our kids' smiles as they start their school years. But I do not want to see any of them getting sick needlessly or schools have to shut down again and go remote because of an outbreak," Murphy told reporters.
The governor stressed that the mask mandate is not permanent.
"As soon as conditions allow -- and please God sooner than later -- we will lift this requirement again," he said.
-ABC News' Will McDuffie
1 in 5 new COVID-19 infections is in Florida
Florida reported a seven-day average of 17,757 new cases Thursday, meaning that 20% of new cases are now occurring in the state, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly criticized COVID-19 restrictions and mask mandates, even as infections and hospitalizations in his state soared to record levels.
Despite its high case count, Florida's vaccination rate is on par with the national average. As of Friday, 49% of Florida residents were fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, compared with 50% of all Americans.
Small Georgia hospital sounds alarm over 'staggering' 1,126% hospitalization increase
An Albany, Georgia, hospital system has seen a worrying spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations. "A month ago, we had eight COVID patients in our hospitals. Today, we’re caring for 97. That’s a staggering 1,126% increase in just over four weeks," said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System's president and CEO.
"Our current challenges are exacerbated by a lack of available contract staff to support the Phoebe Family. Every hospital in our region is stretched to its limit," he added. Steiner urged residents to support health care workers. "Get vaccinated, wear masks and take appropriate steps to slow down the spread of the virus," he said.
-ABC News' Brandon Baur