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, 7:48 PM EST

52 states and territories in upward trajectory of new cases: HHS

An internal memo from Health and Human Services obtained by ABC News on Thursday night shows that 52 states and territories are in an upward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases.

One jurisdiction is at a plateau, and two are in a downward trajectory, the memo said.

Nationally, new cases confirmed between Nov. 5 and 11 increased 35.1% over the previous seven-day period, and deaths increased 30.5% in that time frame. The national test-positivity rate increased to 9.8% from 7.7% in week-to-week comparisons.

Across the country, 28% of hospitals have more than 80% of their intensive care unit beds filled. That number was 17% to 18% of hospitals during the summertime peak.

ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.

Nov 12, 2020, 7:46 PM EST

Ivy League cancels winter sports season

The Ivy League has canceled its winter sports season, officials from the Division I conference announced Tuesday.

Competition for spring sports also has been postponed through at least the end of February 2021, the league said.

Additionally, fall sports, which were canceled this semester, will not compete during the spring semester. The option had initially been seen as a possibility. 

"Regrettably, the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner," the Ivy League Council of Presidents said in a statement.

The league is the first to cancel its winter sports season, according to ESPN. The impacted sports include men's and women's basketball, wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming and fencing.

Nov 12, 2020, 7:05 PM EST

Don Young, oldest member of Congress, tests positive

Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young, who is the oldest member of Congress, has tested positive for the coronavirus, he announced Thursday.

"I have tested positive for COVID-19," he said on Twitter. I am feeling strong, following proper protocols, working from home in Alaska, and ask for privacy at this time. May God Bless Alaska."

In this June 28, 2019, file photo, U.S. Rep. Don Young, answers a reporter's question after filing paperwork for reelection at the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage, Alaska.
Mark Thiessen/AP

The 87-year-old has served in Congress since 1973 -- winning 24 terms in the state's at-large seat.

He was projected by The Associated Press to win reelection over Democrat Alyse Galvin last week. He is currently leading 57%-43% with 82% of precincts reporting.

Nov 12, 2020, 6:39 PM EST

CDC predicts COVID death toll to reach upward of 282K by Dec. 5

In its latest forecast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted there could be as many as 282,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. by Dec. 5.

Its national ensemble forecast predicts that there will likely be 5,500 to 13,400 newly reported COVID-19 deaths in the week ending on Dec. 5, and 260,000 to 282,000 COVID-19 total deaths reported by this date. 

As of Thursday evening, 242,557 people in the U.S. have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. is on track to meet last week’s CDC prediction that at least a quarter of a million people will die from COVID-19 by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.

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