in pleasanton i'm amanda del castillo, abc7 news. >> you can track the air quality where you live on our website, www.abc7news.com. we have a map that is constantly updating the conditions. you can also view this using our abc7 bay area app. >>> now the latest on the surging delta variant, the first time since february the u.s. is averaging 100,000 new cases per day, but there is a vaccination milestone tonight. 50% of all americans are now fully vaccinated. >>> tonight every state in this country is reporting high or substantial community transmission fueled by the delta variant. researchers are also tracking another variant called lambda first detected in south america now reaching the u.s. in small numbers. the early data suggests the lambda variant might partially clip away at vaccine efficacy, but for now lambda is not considered to be a variant of concern. >>> tonight a new cdc study finds people who were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared to those who were vaccinated. abc7 news reporter and vaccine team member luz pena spoke to bay area exper

abc7 news reporter amanda del castillo explains what's changing and when. >> reporter: for california's than 2 million healthcare workers an added layer of security, announced thursday new rules from the state requiring workers in most healthcare settings be vaccinated. emergency room technician roy onpin said this push comes at the perfect time. >> as things started to normalize, we were hoping things would get better. it's unusual that it's kind of gone the other way and this is a great way for us to pivot to really escalate what we'll do to fight this pandemic. >> reporter: workers will need to be fully vaccinated or at least receive a second dose by september 30th. weekly testing was originally offered, but that's now only the case if there's a religious or medical exemption. >> we have been strongly encouraging vaccination. we don't see any other way out of this. >> reporter: in a statement the national union of healthcare workers said in part, "while this order will not be embraced by all our members it will save lives and protect the health of healthcare workers and patients endu

in pleasanton i'm amanda del castillo, abc7 news. >> you can track the air quality where you live on our website, www.abc7news.com. we have a map that is constantly updating the conditions. you can also view this using our abc7 bay area app. >>> now the latest on the surging delta variant, the first time since february the u.s. is averaging 100,000 new cases per day, but there is a vaccination milestone tonight. 50% of all americans are now fully vaccinated. >>> tonight every state in this country is reporting high or substantial community transmission fueled by the delta variant. researchers are also tracking another variant called lambda first detected in south america now reaching the u.s. in small numbers. the early data suggests the lambda variant might partially clip away at vaccine efficacy, but for now lambda is not considered to be a variant of concern. >>> tonight a new cdc study finds people who were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared to those who were vaccinated. abc7 news reporter and vaccine team member luz pena spoke to bay area exper

abc7 news reporter amanda del castillo explains what's changing and when. >> reporter: for california's more than 2 million healthcare workers an added layer of security, announced thursday new rules from the state requiring workers in most healthcare settings be vaccinated. emergency room technician roy onpin said this push comes at the perfect time. >> as things started to normalize, we were hoping things would get better. it's unusual that it's kind of gone the other way and this is a great way for us to pivot to really escalate what we'll do to fight this pandemic. >> reporter: workers will need to be fully vaccinated or at least receive a second dose by september 30th. weekly testing was originally offered, but that's now only the case if there's a religious or medical exemption. >> we have been strongly encouraging vaccination. we don't see any other way out of this. >> reporter: in a statement the national union of healthcare workers said in part, "while this order will not be embraced by all our members it will save lives and protect the health of healthcare workers and patients

abc7 news reporter, amanda del castillo explains. >> reporter: kaiser permanente says it's taking protection a step further, requiring all employees be vaccinated. >> we know that it is maybe more assertive than what other organizations have done. we have been a leader in preventing disease and we believe we have to lead this across the country. >> reporter: starting august 23rd, kaiser will test unvaccinated staff twice a week but by september 30th, the health company wants 100% of employees and physicians to be fully vaccinated. >> reporter: healthcare workers are tired. they are disappointed that we have to have this 4th search and we believe this was mostly preventable. luxury fitness company equinox group is taking this to its staff. an email read in part, employees and members will be required to show one time proof of vaccination to enter all clubs and offices starting in new york city in early september. >> if you joined after but you don't know if other people are so now that they are taking this step, then, yes, i expect to be a lot more comfortable in the gym. >> reporter: workers

abc7 news reporter, amanda del castillo explains. >> reporter: kaiser permanente says it's taking protection a step further, requiring all employees be vaccinated. >> we know that it is maybe more assertive than what other organizations have done. we have been a leader in preventing disease and we believe we have to lead this across the country. >> reporter: starting august 23rd, kaiser will test unvaccinated staff twice a week but by september 30th, the health company wants 100% of employees and physicians to be fully vaccinated. >> reporter: healthcare workers are tired. they are disappointed that we have to have this 4th search and we believe this was mostly preventable. luxury fitness company equinox group is taking this to its staff. an email read in part, employees and members will be required to show one time proof of vaccination to enter all clubs and offices starting in new york city in early september. >> if you joined after but you don't know if other people are so now that they are taking this step, then, yes, i expect to be a lot more comfortable in the gym. >> reporter: workers

abc 7 news reporter amanda del castillo jo found there's a push to prepare now to prevent the chaos that happened during the first round of vaccinations. reporter: there was no planning for the covid-19 pandemic. early vaccination distribution resulted in long lines and operations that left a lot to be desired. fast forward eight months. several counties including santa clara are making plans for the mass rollout of booster shots. the supervisor is adamant, now is the time to get ready. >> people are starting to ask, do i need a booster? how do i get it? we have to have good answers for that. reporter: jennifer tung says the federal government's announcement about booster shots becoming widely available to everyone beginning symptom or 20th provides the county a clearer timeline to work towards. >> we are able to know roughly in the county how many people were vaccinated over time to be able to plan for the volumes that will be eligible for booster shots based on that eight month timeline. reporter: as the biggest county, there's plenty to consider. how might private providers, large tel

amanda del castillo joins us live and have the council made a decision? is expected any moment now. counsel is still hearing public comment. we heard from people inside council chambers in an overflow room and then people who are calling i home very passionate about today's topic. we

amanda del castillo yo wens what this means for customers. reporter: water budgets and financial penalties. this could be the future for san jose water company customers who don't meet the moment. extreme widespread doubt. >> they've done a lot of count -- cutbacks before. we are asking more so we can get through the crisis. reporter: san jose water says the company is asking customers to cut back and conserve 15% from their 2019 water use levels and pay $7.13 in surcharges for every unit of water use beyond that amount. >> it doesn't mean that they have a higher bill. if they stay within their allocation, they will not get a drought surcharge. reporter: san jose water filed an updated water contingency plan with the california public utilities commission earlier this month, adding that the company will decide whether to put the new plan in place. >> this is something to take seriously. reporter: for great oaks water company, similar measures took effect on july 13. the vice president and general counsel says he took immediate action after th

abc 7 news reporter amanda del castillo jo found there's a push to prepare now to prevent the chaos that happened during the first round of vaccinations. reporter: there was no planning for the covid-19 pandemic. early vaccination distribution resulted in long lines and operations that left a lot to be desired. fast forward eight months. several counties including santa clara are making plans for the mass rollout of booster shots. the supervisor is adamant, now is the time to get ready. >> people are starting to ask, do i need a booster? how do i get it? we have to have good answers for that. reporter: jennifer tung says the federal government's announcement about booster shots becoming widely available to everyone beginning symptom or 20th provides the county a clearer timeline to work towards. >> we are able to know roughly in the county how many people were vaccinated over time to be able to plan for the volumes that will be eligible for booster shots based on that eight month timeline. reporter: as the biggest county, there's plenty to consider. how might private providers, large tel

amanda del castillo yo wens what this means for customers.orter: water budgets and financial penalties. this could be the future for san jose water company customers who don't meet the moment. extreme widespread doubt. >> they've done a lot of count -- cutbacks before. we are asking more so we can get through the crisis. reporter: san jose water says the company is asking customers to cut back and conserve 15% from their 2019 water use levels and pay $7.13 in surcharges for every unit of water use beyond that amount. >> it doesn't mean that they have a higher bill. if they stay within their allocation, they will not get a drought surcharge. reporter: san jose water filed an updated water contingency plan with the california public utilities commission earlier this month, adding that the company will decide whether to put the new plan in place. >> this is something to take seriously. reporter: for great oaks water company, similar measures took effect on july 13. the vice president and general counsel says he took immediate action after the sa

amanda del castillo joins us live and have the council made a decision? amanda: that vote is expected any moment now. counsel is still hearing public comment. we heard from people inside council chambers in an overflow room and then people who are calling i home very passionate about today's topic. we know there are dozens who forced their way into city council chambers, forcing counsel to soak spend -- suspend the meeting. they have resumed it. we are waiting for the mayor to address reporters and discuss what has happened. connecting with protesters, they tell me they are against the proposed vaccine mandate for large events at city facilities. this would impact venues like the convention center and others. there is a sign that reads my body, my choice. protesters shouting over council members and attempt to be heard. they feel the city is overstepping its authority. >> there's a lot of things going on but my whole point of what we are talking about is not whether or not to take the vaccine, what we are saying is we should not mandate it like that passpo