Coronavirus news: Fauci details lesser-publicized side effects of COVID-19
"A disturbing number of individuals" were found to have heart inflammation.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 973,000 people worldwide.
Over 31.7 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 criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has varied from country-to-country. Still, 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.
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 country, with more than 6.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 201,617 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 794,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 741,000 cases and over 690,000 cases, respectively.
Nearly 170 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least six of which are in crucial phase three trials.
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Missouri governor tests positive
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and his wife Teresa tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, his office said.
They were tested because Teresa had "minor symptoms," his office said. Gov. Parson has no symptoms.
"All official and campaign events have been canceled until further notice," the office said, adding that the governor's staff has been tested.
"Governor Parson continues to conduct and fulfill all roles of businesses of the state of Missouri from the Governor's Mansion," Parson's office said.
ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
Indiana to lift nearly all restrictions
Indiana will move to Stage 5, its final phase of reopening, on Saturday, Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced.
Retail stores, malls, restaurants, bars and nightclubs can operate at full capacity under the Stage 5 rules.
There will be no restrictions at gyms and large events like sports, fairs and festivals can resume.
Restrictions will also be lifted at amusement parks and water parks, though people are advised to maintain social distancing.
Masks will still be required.
ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
France announces new restrictions as cases rise
New restrictions are coming in France as the nation deals with the highest increase of COVID-19 cases in Europe since May.
French Health Minister Olivier Véran announced a set of targeted restrictions Wednesday to be implemented in various cities for two weeks.
Starting Saturday, in Paris and seven other major cities, parties will be prohibited, with outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people.
Bars must shut their doors at 10 p.m., gyms will be closed and sporting events will be limited to 1,000 spectators.
Meanwhile, Marseille and Guadeloupe are enacting stricter rules; starting Monday all bars and restaurants will be closed.
French officials reported 13,072 new cases on Wednesday, just short of the highest daily record of 13,215. France now has over 481,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 31,459 fatalities.
ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
20 times more likely to catch COVID-19 indoors than outdoors: Study
Dr. Blythe Adamson, a former member of the White House coronavirus task force, told "GMA3" on Wednesday, "One of things that we just learned recently -- and published in a new study today in Clinical and Infectious Diseases -- is that being indoors, you're 20 times more likely to catch COVID from an infectious person than if you were around them outdoors."
Adamson is now adviser to Testing for America, a nonprofit established to help solve the testing crisis.
Adamson stressed that the U.S. must "be flexible and adapt, so as we learn more about the science, we're willing to change our public policies so that they match the best science."
"There's a lot of work for us to continue to do over the next couple of months. As we move forward into flu season, it's even more important that we're able to distinguish between a viral infection that's from influenza or coronavirus," she said.
6 New York City neighborhoods see increase in cases
In the city that was hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in six New York City neighborhoods, according to local health officials.
Due to an uptick in the Borough Park, Kew Gardens, Midwood, Edgemere-Far Rockaway, Flatbush, Bensonhurst and Williamsburg communities, the city announced a targeted response to slow the spread in these areas as part of its "Get Test Tuesday" initiative.
The Midwood, Borough Park and Bensonhurst neighborhoods saw a 4.71% increase in COVID-19 cases from the week ending Aug. 1 to the week ending Sept. 19. In that same period, Far Rockaway saw a 3.69% increase, Kew Gardens a 2.24% increase and Williamsburg a 2% increase.
The increases in these areas make up 20% of all cases citywide.
"At this point in time, these increases could potentially evolve into more widespread community transmission and spread to other neighborhoods unless action is taken," the city said in a statement.
To help combat the rising cases in these areas, Dave Chokshi, commissioner of health of the City of New York, said the city would increase its presence, communication and add testing in these neighborhoods.
"... we'll launch robocalls and WhatsApp messages, communications with houses of worship, core-four palm cards to businesses, distribution of masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. We'll place additional ads in community newspapers and we'll offer new point-of-care testing resources in these six neighborhoods at both Urgent Care and community provider offices," Chokshi said at a press conference Tuesday. "We aim to be seen and heard, so sound trucks will broadcast core four messages in these neighborhoods as well."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, New York City has had more than 23,000 coronavirus-related deaths and 236,000 cases.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said with these upticks, combined with cooler weather, it's important for New Yorkers to continue to avoid large indoor gatherings.
"There are clear rules from the state on this," de Blasio said at a press conference Tuesday. "Large gatherings are still a problem both legally and in terms of the health problem they create. So, we need people to avoid that."
