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, 4:12 PM EDT

Delta 'sweeping over Mississippi like a tsunami': Official

Mississippi is facing "a phenomenal increase in daily reported cases of COVID, and this is entirely attributable to the delta variant, which is sweeping over Mississippi like a tsunami," state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Thursday.

Usage of required face masks are posted throughout Jackson State University during an open COVID-19 vaccination site sponsored by the university and the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center in Jackson, Miss., Aug. 3, 2021.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Dobbs said 97% of new cases are among the unvaccinated, and that 89% of hospitalizations and 85% of deaths are unvaccinated.

Dobbs pleaded with the public to get vaccinated, stressing that the unvaccinated population is driving the current surge, but that vulnerable, vaccinated people are suffering the fallout.

"There is going to be some collateral damage, unfortunately, even folks who've done everything they can to protect themselves," Dobbs said.

"The minority of folks who are vaccinated and hospitalized are overrepresented by the older and those with weaker immune system, so we're seeing a pretty dramatic spillover effect from the transmission in the community to more vulnerable parts of our population," he said.

-ABC News' Soorin Kim

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

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola