A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1 million people worldwide.
Over 36 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 7.5 million diagnosed cases and at least 211,725 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 841,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 803,000 cases and over 722,000 cases, respectively.
More than 190 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least seven of which are in crucial phase three trials.
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Oct 07, 2020, 6:31 PM EDT
Montana cases have doubled: Governor
Over the last two weeks, the number of weekly reported COVID-19 cases in Montana has doubled, Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday, as the state set records in cases and hospitalizations.
There were 2,451 new cases this week, up from 1,249 last week, Bullock said at a briefing. Eighteen counties had "significant increases" in new cases this week, he said, with about 800 combined from Yellowstone and Flathead counties. The last coronavirus-free county, Petroleum County, reported its first infection this week, Bullock said.
On Wednesday, Montana also reported record numbers of new daily cases, with 733, and current hospitalizations, with 235.
ABC News' Lauren Botchan contributed to this report.
Oct 07, 2020, 4:57 PM EDT
Utah sees record hospitalizations ahead of VP debate
The numbers were released hours before the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City.
Health care workers are pictured at the University of Utah Hospital, April 30, 2020, in Salt Lake City.
Rick Bowmer/AP, FILE
Utah recorded 1,007 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the Tribune reported. The state's goal was to keep weeklong averages under 400 daily new cases.
Utah now has over 80,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 496 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins.
Oct 07, 2020, 3:53 PM EDT
Cases expected to continue rising in Northeast, Oregon among ‘most concerning’ spots in US
Cases are forecast to more than double in Boston in the next month if social distancing and other conditions stay as they are, PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) said in a statement.
In New York City, the forecast is worse for all five boroughs for the first time since spring, according to PolicyLab at CHOP.
Hospitalizations are on the rise in the Midwest and Northeast. Hospitalizations doubled in Wisconsin over the last month and have increased nearly 50% in Massachusetts since mid-September, the group said.
Meanwhile, Oregon is showing to be among "the most concerning" spots in the U.S., due to "explosive growth in case counts and quickly rising testing positivity rates that have more than doubled in some areas," PolicyLab at CHOP said.
ABC News' Brian Hartman contributed to this report.
Oct 07, 2020, 2:52 PM EDT
France reports record daily rise in cases
France has reported 18,746 new cases of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, a record one-day increase. An additional 80 coronavirus-related deaths also were recorded.
The nation's cumulative total now stands at 653,509 cases and 32,455 deaths, according to the latest data from country's public health agency.
France's positivity rate stands at 9.1%.
In Ile-de-France, the region surrounding Paris, COVID-19 patients now take up more than 40% of all intensive care unit beds in hospitals, according to a spokesperson for the regional health agency.
France is among several countries in Europe seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections as a second wave of the pandemic hits the region.
Customers wearing face masks order meals on the terrace of a restaurant in Paris, France, on Oct. 6, 2020, on the first day of reinforced restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the French capital. Bars and cafes in Paris and its nearest suburbs, placed on maximum COVID-19 alert from Oct. 5, will be shuttered for two weeks from Oct. 6 under new measures to slow the rapid rise in cases. Restaurants will remain open, provided they respect new safety measures.
Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images
Earlier this week, Paris and its inner suburbs were placed on the maximum COVID-19 alert level. Bars and cafes will be closed for two weeks from Tuesday under new measures to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the French capital. Restaurants will remain open, so long as they adhere to new safety measures, including providing sanitizing hand gel, limiting patrons to six per table with at least 1 meter (slightly more than 3 feet) between seats and allowing diners to remove their masks only for eating.
A youth wearing a protective face mask passes by a sign asking to wear a mask in Rennes, western France, on Sept. 7, 2020.
Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images
ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfound contributed to this report.
