COVID live updates: Avoid cruises regardless of vaccination status, CDC says

(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 824,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

About 62% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

Dec 30, 11:04 pm

FDA to authorize boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds

The Food and Drug Administration is likely to authorize Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for 12- to 15-year-olds next week, a source with direct knowledge of the plan told ABC News.

An authorization may come as early as Monday.

-ABC News’ Eric Strauss

Dec 30, 10:08 pm

US pediatric COVID-19 hospital admissions hit all-time high

More COVID-19-positive children in the United States are being hospitalized each day than at any other point in the pandemic, according to newly updated federal data.

On average, just under 380 children with COVID-19 were admitted into the hospital daily between Dec. 22 and Dec. 28, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The country’s pediatric COVID-19 hospital admission rate has nearly tripled in the past month, CDC data shows.

Nationwide, nearly 2,900 children are currently hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 — approximately 1,300 more patients than a month ago — according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Less than a third of eligible children — ages 5 to 17 — in the U.S. are currently fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Three new studies released Thursday by the CDC found COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and effective for children.

-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Dec 30, 6:23 pm

US marks 3rd day of record new COVID-19 cases

The U.S. recorded more than 486,000 new COVID-19 cases in a day, marking the third straight day of record numbers, according to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new data comes as states are going through their huge backlogs of tests taken during the Christmas weekend.

In the last week, the U.S. has reported more than 2.2 million new cases, which averages out to about 220 Americans testing positive for COVID-19 every minute.

The CDC will not be providing new data updates until Jan. 3, due to the New Year’s holiday.

-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Dec 30, 4:28 pm

Michigan health officials urge schools to delay sports

Officials from Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to schools across the state urging them to either postpone large gatherings or make them virtual.

“Large gatherings (involving 100 or more people) should be held using remote technology or postponed, if not essential. Large gatherings would include events with large numbers of people from multiple households such as conferences or meetings, sporting events, and concerts,” the letter read.

The state also urged schools to require masks for everyone who enters school buildings and to test students regularly.

-ABC News’ Will McDuffie