News & Perspective

Plus, in the United Kingdom, the Delta variant (B1617.2) is surpassing the proportion of Alpha cases (B117).

India reports more than 300,000 cases for the 8th day in a row and again hits a new single-day high.

The head of the WHO said the group is deeply concerned about rising cases and deaths and has redeployed 2,600 staff to help in India.

In other developments, the CDC and the State Department lifted international travel bans and lawmakers remained at odds over the latest COVID-19 relief package.

Plans are under way to disembark Grand Princess cruise ship passengers at Oakland's port and move them to federal quarantine sites. And 2 more deaths were reported in the Seattle area nursing home cluster.

"The day may come when we may need to implement such measures as seen in Asia," a CDC official says.

Also, South Korea cases almost double, to 104, many part of a church cluster.

A study of 44,672 cases reveals that 14% were severe and 5% critical.

Also, new data suggest 82% of cases are mild, Chinese clinicians detail hospitalization patterns, and the US announces support. 

US officials said other outbreak indicators such as deaths in the community need to improve before they feel more confident about the recent drop in cases.