A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 80.2 million people worldwide and killed over 1.7 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Dec 21, 2020, 11:19 AM EST
US averaging 2,613 deaths per day
The U.S. is now averaging 2,613 new coronavirus-related deaths per day -- more than triple the seven-day average from two months ago, according to ABC News’ analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project.
A Covid-19 patient from Louisiana is transported by helicopter at Houston's United Memorial Medical Center, Dec. 8, 2020, in Houston, Texas.
Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Polaris, FILE
A patient is transported outside of Tisch Hospital in New York, Nov. 13, 2020.
Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
So far this month, 49,752 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
In the last seven days, there have been approximately 18,000 deaths recorded -- equaling approximately 108 American deaths reported every hour.
Hospital beds are set up in the practice facility at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif., DEc. 9, 2020, ready to receive patients as needed.
California OES via AP, FILE
In the week ending Dec. 19, 16 states hit a record number of new deaths: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
ABC News’ Arielle Mitropouloscontributed to this report.
Dec 21, 2020, 9:32 AM EST
TSA screens more than 1 million people for 3rd straight day
The TSA said it screened 1,064,629 people at airport checkpoints nationwide Sunday -- the third consecutive day that checkpoint volume surpassed 1 million.
Travelers head to their gate at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Dec. 18, 2020. Holiday Air Travel
Meg Potter/The Republic via USA Today Network
ABC News’ Gio Benitez contributed to this report.
Dec 21, 2020, 6:33 AM EST
California Gov. Gavin Newsom in quarantine
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is in quarantine, again, after a staffer who came in close contact with him tested positive for COVID-19.
Newsom was tested for the virus after the news and the results came back negative, according to a statement from his press office.
FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2020, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a COVID-19 testing facility in Valencia, Calif.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
The individual who tested positive, and who has not been named, was also in contact with various other staff members. They too were tested and their results came back negative.
"In an abundance of caution, the Governor will begin a ten day quarantine per state guidelines. The Governor and staff will be tested again in the next few days and continue to follow state and CDC guidelines," the press office said in a written statement. "We wish our staff member who tested positive well."
The office said its staffers have been following guidance from the California State law and the California Department of Public Health. Among other things, staffers have been wearing masks.
"Early on in the pandemic, the Governor's Office put in place a number of protocols that minimized the amount of staff physically present at work, converted most in person meetings to video conference calls, instituted a no questions asked remote work policy and reduced seating capacity in meeting rooms for in-person meetings that can't be done remotely. Those policies are still in effect and will be for the duration of the pandemic," they said.
Newsom also went into quarantine one month ago, when he and his family learned they had come into contact with a California Highway Patrol officer who had tested positive for COVID-19. The officer provides security for the Newsom family.
Dec 21, 2020, 6:29 AM EST
New strain of COVID-19 driving South Africa's resurgence
South Africa is seeing COVID-19 cases rise as the new strain of the virus spreads though the country.
According to health officials, the new variant, known as 501.V2, is responsible for new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
"It is still very early but at this stage, the preliminary data suggests the virus that is now dominating in the second wave is spreading faster than the first wave," Professor Salim Abdool Karim, chairman of the government's Ministerial Advisory Committee, said in a briefing to journalists, according to the Associated Press.
South Africa has had 921,922 confirmed cases and 24,691 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins data. In the past day, it has seen 9,445 new cases and 152 new deaths.
Experts are saying the new strain of COVID-19 may be more infectious than the original virus.
