Coronavirus updates: Over 7,000 Americans died in past week

The increase comes less than two weeks after Halloween.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: November 18, 2020, 4:38 AM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.3 million people worldwide.

Over 53.2 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 10.7 million diagnosed cases and at least 244,283 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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 12, 2020, 6:26 PM EST

Disneyland to remain closed at least through end of year

While Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has reopened with limitations, don't expect to return to Southern California's Disneyland anytime soon.

On an earnings call Thursday, Disney said the park will remain closed at least through the end of the year. The tight COVID restrictions in California earned condemnation from Disney CEO Bob Chapek.

"Unfortunately, we remain extremely disappointed that the State of California continues to keep Disneyland closed, despite our proven track record," Chapek said in a statement. "We look forward to the time when all of our parks and ships are operating again and we're able to create even more magical experiences for our guests."

In this file photo taken on March 14, 2020 people stand outside the gates of Disneyland Park on the first day of the closure of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks as fear of the spread of coronavirus continue, in Anaheim, Calif.
David McNew/AFP via Getty Images, File

California reported 6,927 new cases on Thursday as the state crept to 991,000 overall since the pandemic began. It will become just the second state, behind Texas, to cross 1 million cases. Orange County, where Disneyland is located, currently has a test-positivity rate of 3.7% -- the highest percentage since Sept. 17.

The Parks, Experiences and Products division, which also includes resorts and cruise lines, lost $2.4 billion in operating income in the last quarter, according to the report. The division also fell 61% in revenue last quarter.

Disney World reopened in mid-July after being closed for nearly four months.

Walt Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Nov 12, 2020, 3:53 PM EST

1 in 378 Americans tested positive for COVID-19 this week

Across the U.S., COVID-19 cases are up 41%, hospitalizations are up 20% and deaths are up 23%, according to the COVID Tracking Project's weekly update.

PHOTO: Firefighters and paramedics with Anne Arundel County Fire Department load a patient into an ambulance while responding to a 911 emergency call on Nov. 11, 2020 in Glen Burnie, Md.
Firefighters and paramedics with Anne Arundel County Fire Department load a patient into an ambulance while responding to a 911 emergency call on Nov. 11, 2020 in Glen Burnie, Md. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Nov. 10 that he will reimpose statewide restrictions for the first time since the start of the pandemic as COVID-19 cases reached record highs in the state for the eighth day in a row.
Alex Edelman/Getty Images

With 875,401 new cases, one in 378 Americans tested positive for COVID-19 this week, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

Twenty-seven states this week hit a record for the number of new cases reported.

The seven-day average of deaths now exceeds 1,000 per day, a level not seen since the summer. States reported another 7,382 lives lost to COVID-19 in the past week, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

ABC News' Brian Hartman contributed to this report

Nov 12, 2020, 3:26 PM EST

Utah positivity rate at 23.3%, cases 'accelerating'

In Utah, where the seven-day positivity rate stands at 23.2%, cases are "accelerating," said Gov. Gary Herbert.

"The positivity rate should cause us all concern," Herbert said.

Kim Tapia holds her granddaughter Amariah Lucero, 3, as she's tested at the Utah National Guard's mobile testing site for COVID-19, Nov. 10, 2020, in Salt Lake City.
Rick Bowmer/AP

The governor warned, "The rooms in intensive care units are getting to the point of being overcrowded." Hospitals are at 87.5% capacity, said state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn.

Nov 12, 2020, 3:03 PM EST

Georgia secretary of state quarantining after wife tests positive 

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who held a news conference Wednesday in the wake of the presidential election, is now self-quarantining after his wife tested positive for COVID-19, Raffensperger's deputy, Jordan Fuchs, told ABC News.

The secretary of state will be tested and results will be released.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks during a news conference on Nov. 11, 2020, in Atlanta.
Brynn Anderson/AP, FILE

ABC News' Quinn Scanlan contributed to this report

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