Coronavirus Watch: Americans are dying at almost 10 times the rate of July

The United States is again reporting more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths per day, a level not seen in more than six months.

The nation reported 14,220 deaths in the week ending Tuesday, Johns Hopkins University data shows. At this pace, an American dies of COVID-19 every 43 seconds.

An installation of more than 660,000 white flags on the National Mall was on display, beginning this weekend, to represent lives lost to COVID-19 in the U.S. 

It's Wednesday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the USA TODAY Network. Here's more news you need to know.

• A committee of top vaccine experts was kicking off 10 hours of meeting Wednesday to decide who should be eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. A vote is expected Thursday. A different federal advisory committee on Friday recommended a third dose of the vaccine six months after full vaccination for people age 65 and older and those at high risk of severe COVID-19.
• The Department of Education launched an investigation into Texas' ban on mask mandates in schools, which it said may be preventing disabled students from full access to education, The Texas Tribune reported.
• President Joe Biden is set to announce the U.S. is doubling its purchase of Pfizer’s shots to share with the world – 1 billion doses – as he embraces the goal of vaccinating 70% of the global population within the next year. The additional vaccines are part of an agreement to supply doses to 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries and 55 member states of the African Union.
• A shortage of monoclonal antibody drugs, used to fight infection and shown to reduce hospitalization and deaths if administered early, is impacting states amid rising cases of unvaccinated people.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 42.4 million COVID-19 cases and 678,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 229.7 million cases and more than 4.7 million deaths. About 64% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 55% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among U.S. adults, 77% have received at least one shot, and about 66% are fully vaccinated.

Tracking the pandemic: See the numbers in your area here. See where cases are rising here. See vaccination rates here. And here, compare vaccinations rates worldwide and see which countries are using which vaccines.

– Grace Hauck, USA TODAY breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck