The L.A. County Department of Public Health will close beaches over the Fourth of July weekend to help curb the coronavirus' spread.

COVID-19 has transformed the way we celebrate holidays and special events, and the Fourth of July is no different.

The group said an Independence Day gathering in the National Mall ​"would needlessly risk the health and safety of thousands of Americans."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the majority of Delta cases are among people who are not vaccinated and they are confident in their plans.

The Surfside condo search has been suspended; D.C. is preparing for crowds on the holiday; Tyson has recalled millions of its chicken products.

This weekend is on track to be the busiest travel period since the start of the pandemic.

The White House fell short of its vaccination goal; at least 45 people are dead after Philippine plane crash; Pope Francis is recovering from surgery.

The police say seven people were killed, and 30 more were injured, when a gunman fired at least 70 shots at parade-goers.

Airlines have been short-staffed as they try to hire thousands of workers to replace those who they encouraged to quit when the pandemic struck.

Most professional-grade fireworks are made in China, and costs related to congestion in U.S. ports, overseas shipping and transportation have jumped.

A seventh person has died following a shooting on a July 4 parade in a wealthy Chicago suburb, the county's coroner announces (Footage by AFPTV via Getty Images)

The 21-year-old suspect is facing 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery.

Police officers guard the scene of a mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois (Footage by AFPTV via Getty Images)

Washington DC

1. Mid shot of man dressed in "Uncle Sam" costume walking on stilts in parade, zo
om in
2. Wide shot of people watching parade from the steps of the U.S. National Archives, pan to...

1. President Hamid Karzai arriving, waving and sitting down with other dignitaries

2. Wide of audience and atte
ndees
3. Various of the independence day parade with military personnel mar
ching past
4. Karzai...

1. Wide shot of cheering crowd with Joaquin Balaguer, leader of the Reformist Social Christian Party (PRSC) during 1990 election campaign.

2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Joaquin Balaguer, former...

July 5, 2003

1. Mid shot of department store, tilt down to c
rowd
2. Mid shot of girls waitin
g outside
3. Mid shot of people arriving at department stores
to do shopping
4. SOUNDBITE...

Phnom Penh, NOVEMBER 9TH, 1953

1. Various of Independence Day parade outside Royal Palace, Phnom
Penh
2. King Sihanouk watching
the parade
P
hnom Penh, 1975
3. Various of aftermath of...

English/Nat

Thousands of Americans have gathered in the nation's capital to celebrate the 222nd birthday of the United Sta
tes.
The annual Fourth of July Parade in Washington, D-C, brought...

Rome, Italy, July 2nd, 2008

1. High/Wide shot of Roman Forum with triumph arch, imperial way and Coliseum in the backgr
ound
2. Long shot...

July 4, 2003

1. Tilt down from chandeliers to banquet hall at Great Hall of the People, tourists cla
pping
2. Close on touris
t clapping
3. Wide shot of stage a
nd banquet...

1. United States President George Bush walking up to podium and waving

2. Wide shot of crowd, zoom in to President saying Pledge of Allegiance to the
flag
3. Cutaway
, veterans
4. SOUNDBITE (English) George...

Thousands of Pakistani opposition supporters on Thursday joined a large convoy heading to the capital, Islamabad, for a key

rally to demand the ousting of the prime minister over allegations of...

1. Pan from banners to teachers demonstrating during student parade

2. Teachers shouting slogans during pr
otest
3. Teachers demo
nstrating
4. Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou watching parade, UPSOUND:...