Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)
Total U.S. confirmed cases: 34,685,950 (34,614,729)
Total U.S. deaths: 611,835 (611,351)
Total global cases: 196,263,711 (195,566,317)
Total global deaths: 4,192,481 (4,181,767)
Health expert predicts decline in Delta cases
The increasing number of COVID-19 cases linked to the Delta variant has raised alarm among political and health officials, but Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sees light at the end of the tunnel.
He’s been watching cases in the U.K., which surged and now have started to dissipate. He says he believes the U.S. is following the same track but on a delayed basis.
The U.K. clearly is on a downslope,” Gottlieb told CNBC. “I would expect some of the southern states that really were the epicenter of this epidemic to start rolling over in the next two or three weeks.”
Virus halts Hollywood production again
The director may shout “action,” but COVID-19 says “cut.” Production of movies and TV shows on Hollywood sets has been disrupted again as cases of the virus have increased in Los Angeles and most of California.
For a time, production was halted on “House of the Dragon” after some members of the production teams tested positive for COVID-19. Production has since resumed. The Hulu comedy “Woke” was also suspended.
Some movie production has also been affected, though disruptions have been temporary. Still, it’s a setback for an entertainment industry that is trying to replenish streaming content that was in high demand during the pandemic.
Anti-vaxxer changed his tune when he got COVID-19
Philly Baird of Ripon, Calif., adamantly refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, proudly proclaiming himself an anti-vaxxer. Then, a month ago, he got the virus and ended up in the ICU fighting for his life.
As he recovered, Baird took to social media to tell others they should get vaccinated. He says he’s gone from being an anti-vaxxer to a vaccination advocate.
"I was an idiot. I didn't get the shot, I believed in all the hoopla," he told KCRA-TV.
Around the nation
California: Cases and hospitalizations are rising but are well below levels seen earlier in the pandemic. But it’s enough to alarm state officials. “Our projections are sobering,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters.
Missouri: CNN reports that some people in Missouri are getting vaccinated secretly because they don’t want their family and friends, who are staunchly anti-vax, to know. Missouri is one of the leading states for new cases of the virus while having among the lowest vaccination rates.
Arkansas: The state’s children's hospitals have reported that a record number of young people have been hospitalized with the coronavirus, but children under age 12 are not cleared to receive a vaccine. Doctors say they are being infected by unvaccinated adults.
Indiana: Some school districts around the state are considering changes to their mask policy for the fall after the CDC issued new guidance this week. State officials, meanwhile, said they don’t plan to issue any statewide mandates and will leave the decision up to individual districts.
Washington, DC: The Washington Nationals were forced to postpone Wednesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after four players and eight staff members tested positive for the virus. Three of the four players had been vaccinated, and all of them only have minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.