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The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed over 1.1 million people worldwide.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Ivan Pereira
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 28, 2020, 5:52 AM EDT

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

Over 44.3 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 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. The criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has also varied from country to country.

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 nation, with more than 8.8 million diagnosed cases and at least 227,673 deaths.

Nearly 200 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.

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Here's how the news developed today. All times Eastern.
Oct 28, 2020, 5:52 AM EDT

South Africa's president enters self-quarantine

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is under self-quarantine after a guest at a dinner he attended over the weekend tested positive for COVID-19.

"The President is showing no symptoms at this time and will, in line with COVID-19 health advice, be tested should symptoms manifest," Ramaphosa's office said in a statement Wednesday. "The President will perform his duties remotely and will observe the guidelines that apply to self-quarantine."

Ramaphosa attended a fundraising dinner for the Adopt-a-School Foundation at a hotel in Johannesburg on Saturday evening. Thirty-five guests were in attendance at the event and were the only people hosted by the venue at that time.

"The event adhered stringently to COVID-19 protocols and directives on screening, social distancing and the wearing of masks," Ramaphosa's office said. "As was the case with all guests, the President himself removed his mask only when dining and addressing the guests."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the COVID-19 treatment facilities at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 24, 2020.
Jerome Delay/Pool via Reuters

On Tuesday, the Adopt-a-School Foundation advised the dinner guests that an attendee had tested positive for COVID-19 after showing symptoms on Sunday. The South African president had already attended two other events Tuesday morning before being alerted of the infected guest, who is currently "receiving medical attention," according to Ramaphosa's office.

"The President is screened regularly by the South African Military Health Service and subjects himself to screening at venues where he participates in engagements," his office said.

South Africa has confirmed more than 717,000 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, including at least 19,053 deaths. The country accounts for almost half of all diagnosed cases on the African continent, according to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Oct 28, 2020, 5:19 AM EDT

Russia's foreign minister in self-isolation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone infected with COVID-19.

Lavrov, however, is "feeling well," according to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 25, 2020.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters

"Following a contact with an individual infected with Covid-19, Sergei Lavrov will opt for self-isolation," the ministry said in a statement Tuesday. "The visits and meetings planned earlier are postponed."

ABC News' Tanya Stukalova contributed to this report.

Oct 28, 2020, 4:24 AM EDT

US reports over 73,000 new cases, nearly 1,000 deaths

There were 73,240 new cases of COVID-19 identified in the United States on Tuesday, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The latest daily tally is nearly 6,500 more than the previous day but still less than the country's all-time high of 83,757 new cases set on Friday.

An additional 985 fatalities from COVID-19 were also registered nationwide Tuesday, more than double the previous day's count but still down from a peak of 2,666 new deaths in mid-April.

Public health nurses look on during COVID-19 testing outside the Salt Lake County Health Department in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 23, 2020.
Rick Bowmer/AP

A total of 8,779,653 people in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 226,723 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.

By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country's cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up and crossing 80,000 for the first time on Oct. 23.

An internal memo from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was obtained by ABC News on Tuesday night shows the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded across the nation has increased substantially in week-over-week comparisons, as has the number of new deaths from the disease.