Protests against mandated COVID-19 vaccines pop up across US

Pushback is happening over vaccine requirements and mask mandates.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Erin Schumaker, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: August 8, 2021, 11:56 PM EDT

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:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Aug 05, 2021, 3:51 PM EDT

New state employee vaccination rules issued in Virginia, Maryland

In Virginia, all 120,000 state employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday.

About 72% of employees are already vaccinated.

Anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated must get tested weekly, he said.

In Maryland, state employees at 48 state facilities must be vaccinated by Sept. 1, "or adhere to strict face covering requirements and submit to regular, ongoing COVID-19 testing," Gov. Larry Hogan said.

The 48 facilities on the list include the Department of Health, Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Public Safety and Corrections and Department of Veterans Affairs.

-ABC News' Jamie Aranoff

Aug 05, 2021, 2:28 PM EDT

Only 2 states not experiencing high or substantial community transmission

Nearly every state in the country is now experiencing case and hospitalization increases. Only two states -- Vermont and Maine -- are not reporting high or substantial community transmission, according to federal data.

The U.S. is now experiencing its steepest increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since the winter. More than 61,000 patients are now hospitalized across the country with COVID-19, according to federal data. About one month ago, 12,000 patients were in U.S. hospitals.

Kim Dimaunahan, RN, left, and Courtney Herron, RN, right, are working in the covid unit inside Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, Calif., July 30, 2021.
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

With 80% of Americans 65 and older fully vaccinated, the burden has largely shifted to younger Americans. As of July 24, Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 made up nearly 40% of COVID-19 hospital patients, according to federal data.

-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Aug 05, 2021, 2:03 PM EDT

Amazon pushes return to office to January 2022

Amazon said it's pushing its return to office date from September 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022.

Amazon corporate office building in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Lisa Werner/Moment Editorial/Getty Images

For those already in the office, masks are required if not fully vaccinated, Amazon said.

-ABC News’ Zunaira Zaki

Aug 05, 2021, 1:55 PM EDT

Education secretary tells Florida, Texas govs.: 'Politics doesn't have a role in this'

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said he’s ready to work with states like Texas and Florida when it comes to reopening schools safely, telling Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis, who have banned mask mandates in schools, that “politics doesn’t have a role in this.”

“Don't be the reason why schools are interrupted,” Cardona said at Thursday's White House press briefing. “Our kids have suffered enough."

A student wearing a facemask walks outside Condit Elementary School in Bellaire, outside Houston, Texas, Dec. 16, 2020.
Francois Picard/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

Cardona said “educators know what to do” and that it's “critically important” that he has direct conversations with governors and state leaders.

“We want to be an ally and make sure that we're supporting our students," he said.

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez

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