COVID-19 live updates: Deaths increasing in 15 states

(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 927,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 64.5% 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:
-Updated mask guidance from CDC could come next week
-Deaths increasing in 15 states
-WHO: Weekly global number of COVID-19 cases fell by 19%

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

Feb 16, 6:54 pm
Virginia governor signs law requiring public schools to make masks optional

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Wednesday requiring public schools to allow parents to opt out of mask requirements by March 1.

The legislation follows weeks of contentious court battles over the governor’s executive order barring mask mandates in schools, which he signed on the day he was inaugurated.

The new law also bans online learning options, prevents schools from enacting hybrid systems and requires that schools be open five days a week for in-person learning.

ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Feb 16, 2:39 pm
Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia easing restrictions

Switzerland will drop most COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday, including remote work requirements and masks requirements in offices, shops and restaurants, officials announced. Through March 31, masks will still be required on public transportation and in health care settings.

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday announced plans to drop most restrictions by March 20.

Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the country will begin to lift restrictions on Feb. 19 and most restrictions will be dropped by March 5. Masks will still be required in some public places. Austria is the only country in Europe mandating vaccines for all adults.

The Associated Press reported that Slovakia plans to gradually ease most restrictions by the end of February.

ABC News’ Christine Theodorou

Feb 16, 1:27 pm
Philadelphia introduces benchmark system for lifting COVID mitigation measures

Philadelphia officials on Wednesday introduced a new tiered system to help determine when COVID-19 mitigation measures can be lifted or reimplemented, if necessary, based on the city’s key virus metrics.

The response system is broken down by four defined levels: Level 4: Extreme Caution; Level 3: Caution; Level 2: Mask Precautions; and Level 1: All Clear.

The city currently falls under the “Level 2: Mask Precautions,” meaning masks are still mandated for all indoor places, but proof of vaccination is no longer required for indoor restaurants and bars.

Should metrics decline even further, under the “all clear” category, masks will no longer be required indoors, except for places like schools and public transportation.

ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Feb 16, 12:44 pm
Updated mask guidance from CDC could come next week

Updated mask guidance from the CDC is expected to come as early as next week, officials confirmed to ABC News.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky did not elaborate on the timing at Wednesday’s White House briefing, only saying the CDC could “soon” update its guidance.

“We are looking at all of our guidance based not only on where we are right now in the pandemic, but also on the tools we now have at our disposal — such as vaccines, boosters, tests and treatments — and our latest understanding of the disease,” Walensky said. “We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when these metrics are better and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen.”

Walensky added, “Omicron cases are declining and we are all cautiously optimistic about the trajectory we are on … but we want to remain vigilant to do all we can so that this trajectory continues.”

Walensky also stressed that it is still critical for Americans to continue to wear masks if they are symptomatic, have been recently exposed or if they are 10 days post-COVID-19 diagnosis.

ABC News’ Anne Flaherty and Arielle Mitropoulos

 

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