According to a new poll from researchers at Ohio State University, half of Americans will ask their guests to wear masks, compared to 67% a year ago, and nearly three-fourths said they will likely celebrate with members of their household only.

Medical experts across the country have been carefully sharing their holiday plans, as Americans navigate an in-between time in the course of the pandemic.

Today during an interview with the Bipartisan Policy Center, Anthony Fauci, MD, the White House's chief medical advisor said he is planning on a more typical holiday season, as long as everyone at the table is vaccinated.

"If you get vaccinated and your family's vaccinated, you can feel good about enjoying a typical Thanksgiving, Christmas with your family and close friends," Fauci said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) COVID Data Tracker shows that 58.8% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 68.3% have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 15% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster dose.

Federal vaccine mandate on hold

A US appeals court late last week upheld its decision to put the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for companies with 100 or more workers on hold, Reuters reports. The administration had argued that halting implementation of the law could lead to dozens or even hundreds of deaths.

The court is upholding a New Orleans–based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeal stay on the vaccine requirement, with a judge citing economic upheaval potentially caused by the mandate against the public's interest.

"From economic uncertainty to workplace strife, the mere specter of the Mandate has contributed to untold economic upheaval in recent months," Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt wrote in his opinion.

In Florida, state lawmakers begin a special session this week to take up legislation that would push back against the federal government's vaccine mandates and limit local government authority to to require COVID-19 vaccination, WFSU reports.

Throughout the pandemic Gov. Ron DeSantis has opposed mask mandates in schools. The governor has been an outspoken critic of the federal vaccine mandate, which would see all employers with more than 100 employees require full vaccination by Jan 4.

"This is a rule that is not consistent with the Constitution and not legally authorized through congressional statute," he said. "The federal government can't just unilaterally impose medical policy under the guise of workplace regulation."

Amid surge, Colorado moves to vaccine proof

The United States reported 23,578 new COVID-19 cases yesterday and 120 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker. In total the United States has reported 47,136,985 COVID-19 cases, including 763,619 deaths.

The 7-day average of new daily cases is 80,885, with 1,133 deaths, according to the New York Timestracker. 

Colorado continues to be a hot spot for virus activity. Last week, the governor said any and all Coloradans over the age of 18 are eligible for the COVID-19 booster vaccine dose.

Now state officials have announced that attendees of large public indoor events in certain parts of the state must show proof of vaccination, according to CNN.