Delta variant drove COVID-19 cases higher across the globe last week — including in the U.S.

The highly transmissible delta variant of COVID-19, now present in 111 countries, drove cases higher across the globe in the past week, including in the U.S., where the curve is rising again after months of declines, especially in those states with low vaccination rates.

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus-borne illness in the U.S. climbed to an average of about 25,661 a day on Tuesday, up 109% from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times tracker. Hospitalizations and deaths are also rising again with an average of 19,700 people in hospitals...