Coronavirus updates: Barron Trump also tested positive for COVID, Melania says

Melania Trump said she and her son have now tested negative.

ByMorgan Winsor and Julia Jacobo
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 21, 2020, 5:01 AM EDT

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

Over 38.4 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 7.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 216,639 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 865,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 830,000 cases and over 741,000 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 developed today. All times Eastern.
Oct 14, 2020, 3:07 PM EDT

EPA moving to approve more long-lasting surface disinfectants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to focus its efforts to approve disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic on a new kind of product that's able to keep a surface virus-free between cleanings or even deactivate viruses days later.

“We do know the primary source of transmission is airborne but we also know that between wearing a mask, washing hands, and social distancing it's also important to clean and disinfect surfaces," Alex Dunn, EPA assistant administrator for chemicals, said on a call with reporters on Wednesday.

The EPA has approved one long-lasting disinfectant called SurfaceWise2, which is currently approved only for use in the state of Texas by American Airlines and Texas Methodist Health Total Orthopedics Sports & Spine Clinics. Dunn said the new process won't require states to submit emergency applications and will make it easier for similar products to be widely available.

ABC News’ Stephanie Ebbs contributed to this report.

Oct 14, 2020, 2:49 PM EDT

The NCAA football game between the University of Florida and Louisiana State University scheduled for Saturday has been postponed following a COVID-19 outbreak on UF’s team, the Southeastern Conference announced today.

Oct 14, 2020, 2:44 PM EDT

Pfizer to expand vaccine trial to include children

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer will begin expanding its vaccine trial to include children, Dr. Robert Frenck, director of the Vaccine Research Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, announced in a Zoom interview Wednesday.

Teens ages 16 and 17 could be tested as early as this week, and children as young as 12 could eventually enter the trial. There is no timeline yet for when they will start being enrolled.

ABC News’ Eric Strauss contributed to this report.

Oct 14, 2020, 2:04 PM EDT

'Herd immunity' is not the answer for solving the pandemic, officials say

Promoting the concept of "herd immunity" or "community immunity," a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a certain percentage of a population has become immune, is "inappropriate, irresponsible and ill-informed," Thomas M. File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, announced in a statement Wednesday.

While the concept is the goal of vaccination campaigns, it "should never come at the cost of the planned exposure and infection of millions of additional people," File said.

ABC News' Eric Strauss contributed to this report.

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