Coronavirus updates: New cases on the rise in 49 states, territories

November 2, 2020November 3, 2020 WKXA

Myriam Borzee/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR, ERIN SCHUMAKER and MARC NATHANSON ABC News

(NEW YORK) — A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.2 million people worldwide.

Over 46.5 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks. The criteria for diagnosis — through clinical means or a lab test — has also varied from country to country.

Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the virus has rapidly spread to every continent except Antarctica. The United States is the worst-affected nation, with more than 9.2 million diagnosed cases and at least 231,003 deaths.

Nearly 200 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least 10 of which are in crucial phase three studies. Of those 10 potential vaccines in late-stage trials, there are currently five that will be available in the United States if approved.

Here’s how the news developed Monday. All times Eastern:

Nov 02, 10:40 pm
New cases on the rise in 49 states, territories

New COVID-19 cases are on an upward trajectory in 49 states and territories, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News.

Three jurisdictions are at plateau, while cases in four jurisdictions are going down, the memo said.

In total, 565,606 new cases and 5,782 deaths were reported during the period of Oct. 24-30, representing a 15.8% increase from the previous seven-day period.

The national test-positivity rate also increased to 6.8% from 6.4% in week-to-week comparisons.

And 21% of hospitals across the country reported having more than 80% of their ICU beds filled, compared to 17-18% during the summertime peak.

Nov 02, 4:31 pm
Highest one-week increase in US COVID cases among children

Nearly 200,000 children in the United States tested positive for COVID-19 last month including 61,000 new cases reported in the one-week period ending Oct. 29, according to state health department data compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.

That one-week stretch marks the greatest single weekly increase in new cases among children seen thus far in the U.S. outbreak.

“This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone – including our children and adolescents,” Dr. Sally Goza, president of AAP, said in a statement. “This virus is highly contagious, and as we see spikes in many communities, children are more likely to be infected, too.”

In total, more than 853,000 kids have tested positive for COVID-19, a number AAP believes to be low, given that children often experience mild COVID symptoms and aren’t tested as frequently as adults.

Nov 02, 3:55 pm
Massachusetts announces new lockdown measures starting Friday

Gov. Charlie Baker rolled out a series of executive orders in Massachusetts Monday as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise.

According to the governor’s office, residents are to be at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., although going to work, essential trips for food and medicine and exercising outdoors are still permitted. In-person dining in restaurants will end at 9:30 p.m.

Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people; 25 for outdoor events. Anyone found not to be in compliance with the new rules can be fined up to $500 for each person above the limit.

The new orders, which take effect on Nov. 6, come after Massachusetts reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for nine consecutive days.

Nov 02, 2:23 pm
Lessons from South Korea’s COVID response: WHO

The world can learn from countries that have successfully reduced the number of COVID-19 cases, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a remote press conference Monday.

Tedros, who is currently quarantining after being exposed to someone with COVID-19, invited professor Yae-jean Kim, an infectious disease expert from Seoul’s Samsung Medical Center in South Korea, to explain how the country brought its outbreak under control. According to Kim, the key elements of South Korea’s response were rapid PCR testing and isolation; transparent communication with the public through press releases and conferences; and public participation and compliance with public health measures.

Nov 02, 2:00 pm
Optimism plays ‘major role’ in willingness to uphold public health restrictions: Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday he didn’t anticipate how much of a problem pandemic fatigue would be for Americans.

“I think one of the things that I tried to emphasize as often as I possibly can, is that this will end,” Fauci told a panel of doctors from Harvard University. “Because so many adults are vulnerable to the virus, the concept of reaching herd immunity by letting people live their lives normally isn’t the way forward. Instead, a combination of a vaccine and public health measures, as well as optimism about the future, is key.”

He went on, “We really do have to be positive. I believe the idea that a vaccine is on the horizon is going to be playing a major, major role in how people accept the continuation of the stringent public health restrictions that they have if they don’t see any relief in sight.”

Nov 02, 1:45 pm
NYC keeping ‘very close eye’ on rising COVID cases: de Blasio

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he’s “keeping a very close eye” on rising COVID-19 cases in New York during a Monday press conference.

“That is an area of concern,” de Blasio said of the city’s seven-day average of 593 new cases.

The mayor also pointed to the city’s positive test rate. While the seven-day average for positivity is 1.81%, the latest number — 2.08% — is higher than the mayor would like.

“I want to keep encouraging people to get tested on a very high level,” de Blasio said. “We want to turn the tide now.”

Nov 02, 10:37 am
Germany enters 4-week partial shutdown

A four-week partial shutdown began in Germany on Monday, with bars, cinemas, restaurants, theaters and other leisure facilities shuttered until the end of the month.

Unlike the lockdown imposed in the spring amid the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, schools, nonessential shops and hair salons will remain open.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional authorities will review the situation after two weeks.

The new restrictions come after the European country reported on Saturday its highest number of COVID-19 infections within a 24-hour period — 19,059 — since the start of the pandemic. The cumulative total now stands at 545,027 cases with 10,530 deaths, according to the latest data from the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s disease control agency.

Nov 02, 9:56 am
Italy’s prime minster announces new nationwide restrictions

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new nationwide restrictions to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, including an evening curfew and limitations on movement between regions.

Conte outlined the planned measures to lawmakers on Monday, ahead of a new decree expected to be announced soon. He said the decree would include restrictions on movement in the late evening and for regions where the COVID-19 infection rate is highest. Arcades, betting shops, galleries and museums will all be closed, joining cinemas, gyms, pools and theaters which were shuttered under the last set of restrictions.

The new decree will also include the closure of shopping malls on weekends, except for any food stores, pharmacies and newsstands located inside. Meanwhile, high schools and middle schools will be asked to transition to full-time remote learning, according to Conte.

Italy, once the epicenter of the pandemic, is battling a rising number of COVID-19 infections as a second wave hits Europe. The country’s civil protection agency confirmed 29,907 new cases on Sunday, including 208 deaths, bringing its cumulative total to 709,335 cases with 38,826 deaths.

Nov 02, 9:23 am
White House adviser apologizes for interview with Russian state TV

Dr. Scott Atlas, an adviser on the White House coronavirus task force, has apologized after appearing on a Russian state-funded television network to criticize lockdown measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Atlas addressed the matter via Twitter on Sunday, saying he was “unaware” that RT was a registered foreign agent.

“I regret doing the interview and apologize for allowing myself to be taken advantage of,” Atlas tweeted. “I especially apologize to the national security community who is working hard to defend us.”

Atlas, a neuroradiologist who was handpicked by President Donald Trump to join the coronavirus task force in August, told RT during a lengthy interview on Saturday that he considered the pandemic to be largely under control and that lockdowns are actually “killing people.”

RT, formerly called Russia Today, is registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a U.S. law that applies to people or companies disseminating information in the United States on behalf of foreign governments, political parties and other “foreign principals.”

U.S. intelligence agencies have alleged that RT, which broadcasts around the world in English, served as a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin as part of efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Russia denies interfering.

Nov 02, 8:09 am
Prince William tested positive back in April, sources say

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, tested positive for COVID-19 in April, royal sources told ABC News.

Wiliam’s diagnosis came shortly after his father, Charles, Prince of Wales, tested positive for the disease. Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne while his eldest son, William, is second in line.

The Court Circular, the official record of past royal engagements, shows that William had a joint engagement with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, on April 8 via Zoom. He did a solo virtual engagement — without Kate — the following day. His next joint engagement wasn’t until May 7.

Nov 02, 7:31 am
Trump suggests he may fire Fauci after election

President Donald Trump suggested to a Florida rally that he may fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases and a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force.

Speaking to the crowd after midnight early Monday morning, the president was complaining about the news media coverage of the coronavirus pandemic when rally-goers began chanting, “Fire Fauci!”

“Don’t tell anybody, but let me wait until a little bit after the election,” Trump responded. “I appreciate the advice.”

“He’s been wrong a lot,” the president told the crowd of Fauci. “He’s a nice man though.”

Fauci has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for over 30 years.

Trump’s comments come after Fauci’s hard-hitting interview with The Washington Post in which he criticized the U.S. government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including Dr. Scott Atlas, a neuroradiologist and the president’s hand-picked adviser on COVID-19.

Nov 02, 6:35 am
Nearly 50,000 Americans remain hospitalized

Nearly 50,000 people across the United States remain hospitalized for COVID-19.

As of Sunday, the number of current hospitalizations nationwide was 47,502, according to data collected by The COVID Tracking Project.

That figure has been steadily climbing since mid-September.

Nov 02, 6:01 am
Russia reports over 18,000 new cases for fourth straight day

Russia confirmed 18,257 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, according to the country’s coronavirus response headquarters.

It’s the fourth straight day that Russia has reported over 18,000 new infections. The latest daily tally falls just short of the country’s all-time high of 18,665 new cases in a 24-hour reporting period, which were confirmed a day earlier.

An additional 238 deaths from COVID-19 were also registered nationwide in the last 24 hours, down from last week’s peak of 366 fatalities, according to Russia’s coronavirus response headquarters.

Moscow remains the epicenter of the country’s outbreak and recent surge. More than 26% of the new cases — 4,796 — and over 22% of the new deaths — 53 — were reported in the capital.

The nationwide, cumulative total now stands at 1,655,038 cases with 28,473 deaths, according to Russia’s coronavirus response headquarters.

Last week, Russia’s health and consumer rights regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, introduced a nationwide mask mandate and ordered all clubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues to be closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Russian authorities have repeatedly said they will not impose another nationwide lockdown.

The Eastern European country of 145 million people has the fourth-highest tally of COVID-19 cases in the world, behind only the United States, India and Brazil, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Nov 02, 5:06 am
El Paso County gets fourth mobile morgue as death toll rises

The El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office set up a fourth refrigerated mobile morgue as the COVID-19 death toll in the westernmost Texas county surpassed 600, according to a report by El Paso ABC affiliate KVIA-TV.

“My understanding is that we just got our fourth one,” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego told KVIA on Sunday afternoon.

As of early Monday, El Paso county had confirmed a total of 50,114 cases of COVID-19 including at least 602 deaths. There were 943 patients who remained hospitalized with the disease, including 271 in intensive care units.

The death toll is expected to continue to rise as the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in ICUs and on ventilators reached an all-time high over the weekend. Health experts have said that many ventilator patients ultimately don’t survive the disease.

The El Paso County judge recently ordered a shutdown of all non-essential services and businesses for two weeks in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that it would begin aggressively enforcing Samaniego’s shutdown order, which is being challenged in court.

Nov 02, 4:23 am
US reports more than 81,000 new cases

There were 81,493 new cases of COVID-19 identified in the United States on Sunday, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The latest daily tally is slightly higher than the day prior but still less than the country’s all-time high of 99,321 new cases set on Friday.

An additional 447 fatalities from COVID-19 were also registered nationwide Sunday, almost half the previous day’s count and down from a peak of 2,666 new deaths in mid-April.

A total of 9,207,364 people in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 230,996 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.

By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country’s cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up and crossing 90,000 for the first time on Oct. 30.