A new milestone in the coronavirus pandemic, half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated.

But with COVID cases still on the rise, especially in unvaccinated areas, the question is, when will things turn around?

Plus, Taliban fighters have captured three key cities in northern Afghanistan.

The question is, how will President Biden respond as American troops head for the exit?

And the Tokyo Olympics come to a close with the United States edging out China for the most gold medals.

The question is, are we ready for the winter games to start in less than six months?

It is way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that makes waking up an Olympic sport.

I'm Alicia Menendez on this Monday, August 9th. We'll start

with the news. The United States has hit an encouraging milestone amid a surge in COVID cases.

According to CDC data released on Friday, more than 165 million Americans are now fully vaccinated

against the virus. That is half of the total U.S. population.

More than 193 million have received at least one dose. Vaccination rates are still low in several

states across the south, but in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, CDC data

shows that the seven-day average of daily first doses has more than doubled since the start of July.

Florida, meanwhile, has set another new daily record for coronavirus infections. The CDC reported 23,903 new cases in Florida on Friday, the state's highest single day total since the start of the

pandemic. On Saturday, the state recorded nearly 14,000 hospitalizations related to COVID with more

than 2,700 patients in intensive care units. Some of Florida's largest school districts are moving

to require masks for students, despite an executive order by Governor Ron DeSantis that banned school districts are moving to require masks for students, despite an executive order by

Governor Ron DeSantis that banned school districts from imposing mask requirements when classes

resume.

According to the Miami Herald in an open letter posted on the district's website, the Palm Beach

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