COVID-19 Live Updates: Federal Agencies Require Vaccine Mandates, Delta Variant Overwhelms Hospitals
Vaccine mandates are being introduced across state agencies, including the military, as the United States contends with an aggressive Delta variant. The mutation has seen high levels of hospital admissions, with reports of some hospitals being unable to cope.
Backing the measures, President Joe Biden said the country is still on a wartime footing and "being vaccinated will enable our service members to stay healthy, to better protect their families, and to ensure that our force is ready to operate anywhere in the world".
Desperate to defeat vaccine hesitancy, some states are turning to influencers to reach young people worried about getting the shot. Lotteries and college scholarships are other incentives being used to boost uptake, with experts worried about the impact the Delta variant is having on younger people compared to previous waves.
Follow Newsweek's liveblog for all the latest updates.
English Premier League fans to be randomly spot-checked
As the new soccer season in England kicks off, fans will be randomly spot-checked for COVID vaccine status or a negative test.
A statement from organizers said:
Initially, in the first few matchdays of the season, supporters can expect the introduction of random spot-checks for ticket holders at some grounds as we establish the required processes so clubs and fans are prepared for all match attenders to have their COVID-19 status checked upon arrival, should it become mandatory.
Delta rips through the U.S. - but Lambda haunts health experts
While the Delta variant has become the dominant strain of the coronavirus in the U.S.—responsible for more than 93 percent of circulating cases—the Lambda variant has swept much of South America.
Known as C.37, it was first detected in Peru in August 2020 and has since spread to other countries, many in Latin America. The exact origins of the variant remain unclear, but scientists say the Andean strain emerged in South America.
With the strain now accounting for over 90 percent of cases in Peru in July - compared to 0.5 percent of cases in December - experts in the U.S. fear the worst about its ability to infect.
Good morning and welcome to Newsweek's liveblog
The Delta COVID variant continues to sweep through U.S. states this morning as many hospitals breach their capacity and staff levels drop to dangerous levels.
The race is on between the vaccine and the variant, with some states drawing on support from influencers and flashy prizes to get the uptake boost they are looking for.
Follow Newsweek's liveblog throughout Tuesday for all the latest.
