COVID-19 live updates: US cases drop 61% since January peak

(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.7 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 904,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 64.1% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Latest headlines:
-Connecticut to end statewide school mask mandate
-New Jersey governor to end mask mandate for schools
-All states reporting declining or stable new case rates

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Feb 07, 4:56 pm
Cases among kids continue to drop but are still ‘extremely high’

After the U.S. reported an unprecedented number of new pediatric COVID-19 infections last month, updated data released on Monday shows new cases among children have dropped for the second week in a row.

Nearly 632,000 kids tested positive for COVID-19 last week, a huge drop from the peak level of 1,150,000 reported the week ending Jan. 20, according to a new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.

However, the organizations warn that pediatric cases remain “extremely high” and are still double the level seen in the summer delta surge.

AAP and CHA noted there is an “urgent” need to collect more age-specific data to assess the severity of illness related to new variants as well as potential longer-term effects.

ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Feb 07, 4:34 pm
Connecticut to end statewide school mask mandate

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that he recommends ending the statewide mask mandate as of Feb. 28.

Beginning in March, the decision on masks in schools will go to superintendents and mayors based on the individual needs of towns, he said.

This comes hours after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said his requirement to wear face masks in schools will end on March 7.

The CDC said it continues to recommend masks for all students 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status.

Feb 07, 2:50 pm
White House has contracted 569 million free tests so far

President Joe Biden’s administration has so far contracted for about 569 million at-home rapid tests as it works to fulfill Biden’s pledge for 1 billion free tests nationwide, a White House official told ABC News.

According to an ABC News analysis, the testing company iHealth is supplying the government with the most tests toward this goal, with a contract to deliver 354 million tests. Other companies supplying tests include Roche, Abbott and Siemens.

White House officials said about 60 million households have placed orders for tests so far through, amounting to a total of 240 million tests (each household can order four).

The U.S. Postal Service said Friday that it has shipped out tests to “tens of millions” of those households.

ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett, Ben Gittleson, Lucien Bruggeman

Feb 07, 11:54 am
New Jersey governor to end mask mandate for schools

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that the state’s requirement to wear face masks in schools will end on March 7.

“Balancing public health with getting back to some semblance of normalcy is not easy. But we can responsibly take this step due to declining COVID numbers and growth in vaccinations,” Murphy tweeted.

Murphy, a Democrat, has imposed some of the strictest pandemic-related mandates in the country. New Jersey, an early hot spot for COVID-19 cases, has lost more than 31,000 residents to the virus.

This move follows a decision last month by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, also a Democrat, to rescind his state’s mask mandate for schools.

Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of New York and Connecticut have said that they are reevaluating school mask mandates set to expire later this month.

ABC News’ Aaron Katersky

 

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