US in ‘another pivotal moment’ as Delta variant drives surge in Covid cases

• Hospitals are filling up, especially in areas with low vaccinations
• CDC offers no change in guidance on mask wearing

The US is at another pivotal moment in this pandemic" as rising Covid-19 cases show no signs of abating, driven by the Delta variant, and some hospitals are filling up, especially in areas with low vaccination rates, government officials warned on Thursday.

The US government did not change its guidance on mask wearing, despite debates going on in the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about whether those who have been vaccinated should once again be officially advised to wear masks indoors to prevent the spread.