COVID-19 cases spike nationwide as vaccinations slow and Delta variant spreads

New cases of COVID-19 are spiking across the US, fueled by the more infectious Delta variant and a slowdown in vaccinations — stoking fears of a virus resurgence as President Biden pleads with unvaccinated Americans to roll up their sleeves.

An average of 32,387 new coronavirus cases were reported each day over the past week — more than double what the seven-day average was 10 days earlier, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Hospitalizations due to the virus have also increased — up 35.8 percent between July 7 and 13 compared to the previous seven days, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.