Nearly 600 patients wait for hospital beds in Houston as city sees surge in COVID cases
According to the CDC, 46% of Texans have been fully vaccinated.
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 620,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.3 million people have died worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 59.1% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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CDC strengthens its recommendation for vaccines during pregnancy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday strengthened its recommendation for vaccines during pregnancy.
The CDC's update is based on new evidence that the vaccine officially poses no safety concerns for pregnant people vaccinated late in pregnancy, or for their babies, and no increased risk for miscarriage. The CDC also found no increased risk of miscarriage among people who got vaccinated during the first trimester.
Pregnant people were not initially included in the clinical studies for the vaccines so the CDC couldn't definitively say vaccines were safe and effective -- though it's long been recommended by officials. Last week, two of the nation's leading women's health organizations, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), came out in full support of vaccinations for pregnant people.
Just 23% of pregnant people received one dose of a vaccine during pregnancy as of July 31, according to CDC data.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett
Hospitalizations at highest point in 6 months
The daily case average in the U.S. has surged to more than 110,000, a 25.5% jump in the last week, according to federal data.
The U.S. has reported over 770,000 cases in the last week, marking the highest weekly total in months.
Every state in the country is now reporting high (a seven-day new case rate ≥100) or substantial (a seven-day new case rate between 50-99.99) community transmission, according to federal data.
Hospitalizations in the U.S. have climbed to the highest point in six months. About 9,300 patients are being admitted each day, the highest number of patients seeking care since April.
Pediatric COVID-19-related admissions per capita are also at their highest point of the pandemic.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Philadelphia city employees must get vaccinated or wear double masks
In Philadelphia, all city employees must be vaccinated or will be required to double-mask while working in enclosed spaces as of Sept. 1, Mayor Jim Kenney said.
The mayor on Wednesday also announced a new mask mandate that'll go into effect Thursday for indoor places where vaccines aren't required. The mandate also applies to non-seated outdoor events with over 1,000 people.
While COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia aren't as severe as many other cities, acting Philadelphia health commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said over 100 COVID-19 patients are now in city hospitals, the highest number since early June.
Hurricane evacuations could be complicated by COVID: Biden
For Americans in hurricane-prone states, "a vital part of preparing for hurricane season is to get vaccinated now," President Joe Biden said Tuesday.
"If you wind up having to evacuate, if you wind up having to stay in a shelter, you don't want to add COVID-19 to the list of dangers that you're going to be confronting," Biden warned at a briefing with FEMA and Homeland Security officials. "Get vaccinated now so you're ready for whatever may come this month. And it's likely that some serious hurricanes are going to come this month."
Florida and Louisiana, two of the most hurricane-prone states, are leading the nation in cases. Alabama, Mississippi and Texas are also among the states with the highest case numbers.
There's a 65% chance for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky