U.S. health officials warn of tough days ahead as COVID-19 outbreak

U.S. health officials will decide within the next two weeks whether to offer COVID-19 booster shots to more Americans.

The Delta variant is filling hospitals across the country, even in states with high vaccination rates.

Record numbers of children are being hospitalized. In Dallas, Texas, the county chief toldparents of critically ill children, "your child will have to wait for another child to die," because all the pediatric ICU beds are full.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, is warning of tough days ahead.

He says the country could soon see 200,000 new cases daily,a level not seen since mid-January.

He calledAmericans whohaven't yet been vaccinated "sitting ducks" for the virus.

Oregon andHawaii are facing their largest waves of infection since the pandemic began.

Some 500 National Guard troops have been dispatched to help Oregon hospitals deal with the surge. The state's governor has also asked federal emergency officials for help.

In Hawaii, governmentworkers have until Monday to get vaccinated or endure weekly testing.

Germany has added the U.S. to its list of high-risk countries. Travelers arriving in Germany, who have recently been in the U.S., will have to provide proof of vaccination or face quarantine.

Check out

The China Report

, our new weekly newsletter.Subscribe here!