Coronavirus updates: Johnson & Johnson pauses vaccine trial

The company is currently in Phase 3 of its trial.

ByMorgan Winsor, Erin Schumaker, and Ivan Pereira
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 13, 2020, 6:07 AM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1 million people worldwide.

Over 37.6 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 7.7 million diagnosed cases and at least 214,771 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 855,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 818,000 cases and over 736,000 cases, respectively.

More than 190 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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Oct 12, 2020, 6:37 PM EDT

Fauci calls on Trump campaign to pull ad, warns against future ones

Dr. Anthony Fauci again called on the Trump campaign to take down a recent political ad that used previous statements that he says were taken out of context, warning that the future use of his interviews and statements could "backfire" on the campaign.

Fauci appeared on CNN Monday and reiterated to Jake Tapper that he didn't give permission for his comments in a March Fox News interview, in which he complimented the overall efforts of federal public health officials, to be used in an ad in which it sounded like he was praising Trump personally.

"It's so clear that I'm not a political person. I have never either directly or indirectly endorsed a candidate," said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Despite Fauci's objections, Trump and the campaign officials said Sunday they would continue to run the ad.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and President Donald Trump participate in the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, April 22, 2020, in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE

When asked how he would react if the campaign ran more ads featuring his statements, Fauci said it would be "terrible" and "outrageous."

"That might actually come back to backfire on them; I hope they don't do that because that's, that would be kind of playing a game that we don't want to play," he said. "So I hope they reconsider that, if in fact they are indeed considering doing that."

Later Monday evening, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted a tongue-in-cheek video that cut together clips of Trump's speeches and interviews to make it look Trump apologized to Fauci.

"Donald Trump is running TV ads taking Dr. Fauci out of context and without his permission. So, here's a message from the President in his own words," Biden tweeted.

Biden later slammed Trump for going against Fauci's wishes during a campaign stop in Cincinnati, Ohio, saying, "Look, they use the ad knowing it's a lie. Can you remember any other major mainstream presidential candidate ever doing something like these things?"

Oct 12, 2020, 4:23 PM EDT

Kentucky governor in quarantine after possible COVID-19 exposure 'feels great'

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who is in quarantine after possible COVID-19 exposure, said he's doing well during a Monday news conference. "I feel great. My family feels great. We're trying to be really positive about this situation," he said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addresses the media in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 23, 2020.
Timothy D. Easley/AP, FILE

The governor reminded the public to adhere to fundamental public health measures like mask wearing and social distancing. "Folks, wear it," he said of face coverings. "It's a requirement in Kentucky. The more you wear them, the less the virus will spread."

Beshear and his family are in quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19, which the governor's office announced Sunday. A member of Beshear's security detail had tested positive on Saturday, according to the governor's office.

Oct 12, 2020, 2:31 PM EDT

Up to half of US COVID-19 deaths could have been prevented, research letter says

Up to half of COVID-19 deaths in the United States could have been prevented, according to a research letter published in JAMA Monday.

The research relies on modeling, meaning it is an estimation by scientists that's subject to change as we discover more about the virus and not an official count of preventable deaths. 

A funeral home driver handles one of the Covid-19 victims held stored in a mobile refrigerator outside the facility in Los Angeles, Aug. 21, 2020.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE

The researchers sited weak public health infrastructure and the United States' "decentralized, inconsistent" response to the pandemic as key factors driving preventable deaths and noted that the U.S. population is on the younger side but includes a disproportionate number of citizens with comorbidities.

Oct 12, 2020, 1:42 PM EDT

Highest rise in COVID-19 cases reported in the last 4 days: WHO

World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that achieving herd immunity is not a viable strategy for stemming the spread of coronavirus.

Less than 10% of the world's population has been infected with the virus, according to WHO, meaning that most individuals are still susceptible to the disease. Among those who have been exposed, there are many unknowns, including how high the immune response is after infection, how long it protects, and what the long-term impacts of infection are.

Worldwide COVID-19 cases continue to increase, with the highest rise occurring in the last four days, according to WHO. As of Monday, there had been 37.6 million infections worldwide according to Johns Hopkins University.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

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