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By Dan Donahue, NBC Nightly News

Good Friday afternoon. The CDC released alarming new evidence on the spread of the Delta variant among vaccinated people, the U.S. women’s soccer team advanced in Tokyo after a thrilling shootout, and the DOJ says Trump’s tax returns must be handed over to Congress.

Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown.

CDC internal document warns “the war has changed’ as Delta variant spreads

The CDC has sounded the alarm on the Delta variant, warning it may be as contagious as chickenpox, and that even fully vaccinated people can readily spread the highly contagious strain, according to an internal document.

Research shows that vaccinated people who experience breakthrough infections from the Delta variant can carry high viral loads in the nose and throat, according to a recent internal slide presentation.

Health officials are urged to “acknowledge the war has changed,” according to that internal document, obtained Friday by NBC News and first published by The Washington Post.

It concludes that the Delta variant is “highly contagious, likely to be more severe” and that “breakthrough infections may be as transmissible as unvaccinated cases.”

The CDC also released an analysis of a cluster of cases this month in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and found the Delta variant likely caused 90 percent of them, and nearly three-quarters of cases involved vaccinated people.

The new evidence prompted the CDC to change its guidance this week, recommending vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas of “high” or “substantial” transmission.

Vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease, but they may not be as good at preventing infection or transmission of the Delta variant, according to the document.

New U.S. cases have surged nearly 440 percent from the low point in June, according to the CDC.

National forecasts predict between 200,000 to 1,200,000 new cases will likely be reported in the U.S. during the week ending Aug. 21.

More Covid headlines:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will sign an order making masks optional in schools, at a time when the state is leading the nation in new cases and hospitalizations.
Broadway audiences will now be required to be fully vaccinated and wear masks during performances, the Broadway League announced.
The Los Angeles school district is the first in the nation to require all students, teachers and staff to be tested for Covid on a weekly basis.
Six passengers on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas cruise ship tested positive for Covid — four vaccinated adults, and two unvaccinated children.
Walmart will begin requiring masks for workers in high-risk counties. The retail giant is encouraging customers to wears masks, but not requiring it.
Congressional Democrats are scrambling to pass an extension of the eviction moratorium that’s set to expire on Saturday.
The IRS is offering tax credits to employers who give their workers paid time off to get vaccinated.

The U.S. women’s soccer team kept their dreams of gold alive in a nail-biter against European champions the Netherlands.

The USWNT advanced to the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics after defeating the Dutch in a penalty shootout.

Next they’ll take on Canada, which beat Brazil 4-3 on penalties in their quarterfinal. The other semifinal features Sweden vs. Australia.

More on the Olympics:

Suni Lee says winning gold in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition is a “dream come true.”
Novak Djokovic, the number 1 ranked player in the world, lost to Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semifinals, ending his bid for a Golden Slam.
U.S. BMX racer and defending Olympic gold medalist Connor Fields was carried off on a stretcher after a crash.
The U.S. women’s basketball team defeated host country Japan to remain unbeaten.

A series of tornadoes ripped across parts of Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey overnight, leaving many residents to pick up the pieces today.

Three tornadoes have been confirmed in New Jersey, two rated EF-1 with winds up to 105 mph, and an EF-0.

At least five people were injured when a tornado ripped through the Philadelphia area.

Images on social media show heavy damage to a car dealership, with vehicles flipped over.

The Justice Department told the Treasury today it must turn over former President Donald Trump’s tax returns to Congress.

The DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel said in its opinion that the House Ways and Means Committee gave “sufficient reasons” for requesting the information.

The opinion is a reversal from the Office of Legal Counsel’s position during the Trump administration in 2019, when it said Congress lacked a legitimate reason to seek Trump’s tax returns, and was merely out to embarrass him.

In another development, the House Oversight Committee is accusing Trump of pressuring top Justice Department officials to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.

Then-President Trump asked then-Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and other DOJ officials to declare the election “corrupt,” according to handwritten notes taken by officials on the call, that were released today by the committee.

Trump has yet to respond to either development.

What else we’re watching:

The first evacuation flight of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces as interpreters and in other roles arrived in the U.S. today. NBC’s Monica Alba captured video of a man jumping the outer perimeter fence at the White House, before being tackled by Secret Service agents. Nearly 300,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.

Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app.

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