Delta COVID-19 variant gains speed across U.S.

An advisory panel with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control voted Friday to recommend a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people with weakened immune systems.

Friday’s vote cleared the way for expected final approval by the CDC. It backed an earlier recommendation for booster shots from the Food Drug Administration. An estimated 7 million people are considered immunocompromised.

The Delta variant gained speed across the United States. The number of cases rose 76 percent from two weeks ago. The number of deaths increased by 92 percent.

Eight southern states – including Florida, Texas and Georgia – have seen a startling surge in cases. They now have half of the nation’s COVID-19 hospitalizations while accounting for only a quarter of the U.S. population.

The eight states lag behind the national average for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Check out

The China Report

, our new weekly newsletter. Subscribe here!