Coronavirus updates: Fauci calls 'herd immunity' declaration 'ridiculous'

"This idea that we have the power to protect the vulnerable is total nonsense."

ByMorgan Winsor and Karma Allen
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 21, 2020, 5:00 AM EDT

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

Over 38.8 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 217,721 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 866,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 836,000 cases and over 744,000 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 15, 2020, 4:45 PM EDT

Cases on the rise in 38 states: ABC News analysis 

Coronavirus cases are increasing in 38 states and Washington, D.C., and deaths are rising in 14 states, according to an ABC News analysis of COVID Tracking Project data.

Amid warnings of a second wave, the seven-day average of new cases rose across the country with the figure now surpassing 52,000 -- the highest in nearly two months.

The trends were all analyzed from data collected and published by the COVID Tracking Project over the past two weeks, using the linear regression trend line of the seven-day moving average to examine whether a state's key indicators were increasing, decreasing or remained flat.

Veterans receive aid at a Veterans Affairs food pantry in Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 15, 2020.
Jeffrey Dean/Reuters

Two states and Puerto Rico reported decreases in new case trends and 10 states reported flat trends. Separately, nine states saw decreasing positivity rates, while rates in 15 states and Washington, D.C., were flat.

When it comes to hospitalizations, six states experienced a declining trend in current hospitalizations, while eight states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico reported flat hospitalizations trends. Twelve states saw a declining trend in new deaths, and 24 states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, reported flat rates.

Over the last week alone, the seven-day average of new cases increased by 10% or more in 33 states, according to an analysis of state data.

Data from this week may be skewed because of lags in reporting or backlogs as a result of the Columbus Day holiday.

Oct 15, 2020, 3:25 PM EDT

CDC forecast sees death toll rising nearly 5% by Nov. 7

The Centers for Disease Control released their weekly ensemble forecast showing that the agency expects the U.S. death toll to reach between 229,000 and 240,000 people by Nov. 7, according to new forecasts. 

The center said it received forecasts of COVID-19 deaths over the next 4 weeks from 44 modeling groups. Of the 44 groups, 39 provided forecasts for both new and total deaths, three groups forecast total deaths only, and two focused solely on new deaths.

"This week’s national ensemble forecast indicates an uncertain trend in new COVID-19 deaths reported over the next four weeks and predicts that 3,400 to 7,100 new deaths will likely be reported during the week ending November 7, 2020," the CDC said in a statement Thursday. 

It added: "The state- and territory-level ensemble forecasts predict that over the next 4 weeks, the number of newly reported deaths per week may increase in three jurisdictions and decrease in one jurisdiction … trends in numbers of future reported deaths are uncertain or predicted to remain stable in the other states and territories."

Oct 15, 2020, 4:53 PM EDT

North Carolina reports highest single-day case increase

North Carolina reported 2,532 new cases on Thursday, representing the state's highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic. Health officials reported 1,926 new cases the previous day. 

"Today, NC reported 2,532 new cases of #COVID19, our highest day of cases. Our trends are headed in the wrong direction, but we can turn this around, just as we have throughout the pandemic," the state's health department tweeted Thursday. 

A poll worker assists a voter at the Spectrum Center, during the first day of early voting in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 15, 2020.
Grant Baldwin/AFP via Getty Images

The jump in new cases was accompanied by an increase in completed tests. The percentage of positive tests dropped slightly to 6.5%, but was still well above the September average of about 5%. 

At least 311 patients had been admitted to local hospitals with symptoms of COVID-19 over the last day. 

Oct 15, 2020, 12:03 PM EDT

El Paso announces restrictions as area cases rise

Officials in El Paso, Texas, announced new activity restrictions to slow the spread of the virus as new cases and hospitalizations rose to an all-time high.

The city reported 717 new cases and 20 delayed testing results on Thursday, bringing the total number of active cases to 6,887. Health officials also announced an additional death, bringing the total number of fatalities to 554. The patient was described as a male in his 80s with health conditions.

"Today’s spike is part of an overall increase in cases seen over the last week due to community spread believed to be caused by COVID-19 fatigue resulting in residents letting their guard down," city officials tweeted Thursday. "For this reason, the Mayor and City Attorney’s Office are working with the Department of Public Health (DPH) and Office of Emergency Management to further restrict activities in our community to slow the spread. These strong restrictions are necessary and must be enacted."

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