Coronavirus updates: CDC now 'strongly recommends' masks on airplanes, buses

The goal is to "help safely reopen America’s economy," the CDC said.

ByMorgan Winsor, Ivan Pereira, and Marc Nathanson
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 21, 2020, 4:58 AM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.

Over 40 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 8.1 million diagnosed cases and at least 219,674 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 875,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 854,000 cases and over 755,000 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 19, 2020, 6:38 AM EDT

Russia reports nearly 16,000 new cases in new record high

Russia confirmed another 15,982 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, its highest daily tally yet.

An additional 179 deaths from COVID-19 were also registered in the past 24 hours, down from last week's peak of 286. The cumulative totals now stand at 1,369,313 cases and 23,723 deaths, according to Russia's coronavirus response headquarters.

The country of 145 million people has the fourth-highest tally of COVID-19 cases in the world, behind only the United States, India and Brazil.

A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the novel coronavirus walks in front of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 18, 2020.
Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

More than 33% of the newly confirmed cases -- 5,376 -- and over 28% of the newly registered deaths -- 51 -- were reported in the capital, Moscow, according to country's coronavirus response headquarters.

Although Russia has been breaking its own records for daily case counts and deaths almost every day since Oct. 9, authorities there are resisting shutting down businesses again. Few measures have been imposed in Moscow, the epicenter of the country's COVID-19 outbreak and recent surge.

ABC News' Alina Lobzina contributed to this report.

Oct 19, 2020, 6:19 AM EDT

Global case count tops 40 million

More than 40 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The global tally crossed the 40 million mark on Monday morning in yet another grim milestone of the pandemic.

Cars drive by a sign outside a pub asking people to "stay home" in Flint in north Wales on Oct. 17, 2020.
Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

The United States has the highest number of diagnosed cases of any country, with more than 8.1 million, but is closely followed by India, which has over 7.5 million. Brazil, Russia and Argentina are also in the top five, according to Johns Hopkins data.

Oct 19, 2020, 6:08 AM EDT

Top Palestinian official taken to Israeli hospital for COVID-19

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, who is battling COVID-19, was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Israel on Sunday, according to the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Erekat, who lives in the town of Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, disclosed earlier this month that he had contracted COVID-19. The 65-year-old has a history of health problems and received a lung transplant in the United States in 2017.

"Following his contraction of COVID-19, and due to the chronic health problems he faces in the respiratory system, Dr. Erekat's condition now requires medical attention in a hospital," the Palestinian Liberation Organization said in a statement Sunday.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (not pictured) in Amman, Jordan, on Sept. 6, 2020.
Muhammad Hamed/Reuters

Erekat's brother told Agence France-Presse that "his situation is not good."

Erekat, who serves as the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, is one of the most senior advisors to the Palestinian president. He is a longtime proponent of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been more than 42,490 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with at least 381 deaths in the West Bank.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

Oct 19, 2020, 5:16 AM EDT

Nationwide mask mandate and other new restrictions take force in Switzerland

A nationwide mask-wearing mandate and other new restrictions took force in Switzerland on Monday, amid a growing number of COVID-19 infections.

People must now wear face masks in publicly accessible indoor spaces and at all public transport access points across the Central European country, including airports, bus and tram stops, railway stations, restaurants, shops and theaters. Masks have already been required on all public transport since July.

Moreover, spontaneous gatherings of more than 15 people in public areas are no longer permitted. Masks are now required for all private events with more than 15 people. People may only consume food and drink while sitting down, and the contact details of all those taking part must be recorded.

PHOTO: A man holds a placard reading in German "The Federal Council (Swiss government) has caused more suffering than it prevented," during a protest in front of the House of Parliament in Bern, Switzerland, on Oct. 18, 2020.
A man holds a placard reading in German "The Federal Council (Swiss government) has caused more suffering than it prevented," during a protest against the new coronavirus-related restrictions in front of the House of Parliament in Bern, Switzerland, on Oct. 18, 2020. The Swiss Federal Council announced on Oct. 18 new measures to curb further spread of the novel coronavirus, including a nationwide mask-wearing mandate for indoor public spaces.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

In addition, patrons in all restaurants and entertainment venues also may only consume food and drink while sitting.

The federal government is again recommending people to work from home, as it did in March.

The Swiss Federal Council announced the new measures on Sunday.

Switzerland has confirmed more than 74,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 1,823 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest data from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

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