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 13, 2020, 9:42 PM EST

New Mexico pauses jury trials through end of the year

The New Mexico Supreme Court will pause criminal and civil jury trials through the end of 2020, officials announced Friday.

An order issued by the court will suspend jury trials set to begin on or after Nov. 16 to next year. Trials currently underway are not affected.  

New Mexico’s appellate, district, metropolitan and magistrate courts will also remain open.

New Mexico Army National Guard soldiers check appointment information for people waiting for a COVID-19 test at the Public Health Department testing site in Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.
Cedar Attanasio/AP

The order came hours after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state will shelter in place for two weeks starting on Monday. Nonessential businesses will have to close, and people are advised to leave their homes only for essential trips.

The shelter-in-place measure does not apply to court operations, but the Supreme Court's precautions "will reduce the number of people who need to come to a courthouse at a time when the state has tightened public health order restrictions on New Mexicans because of a spike in COVID-19," Chief Justice Michael E. Vigil said in a statement.

ABC News' Michelle Mendez and Cherise Rudy contributed to this report.

Nov 13, 2020, 7:20 PM EST

Nevada governor tests positive for virus

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced Friday afternoon.

"As part of a regular testing protocol, I underwent routine COVID-19 testing on Friday, November 13 in Carson City. A rapid test provided a positive result," he wrote on Twitter.

Sisolak said he is currently experiencing no symptoms, though earlier in the week he "felt a little fatigue, which I attributed to my demanding schedule."

Gov. Steve Sisolak gives an update on the state's COVID-19 response, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in Las Vegas.
Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool, File

The Democratic governor, 66, previously tested negative on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6, he said.

He is still awaiting results from a PCR test, which is more accurate than a rapid test.

"Consistent with guidelines from the CDC and the DHHS, I am isolating and continuing to monitor my symptoms," Sisolak said. "All public events have been canceled at this time. I remain in constant contact with my staff and my Cabinet and the work of the Governor’s Office will continue remotely."

Nov 13, 2020, 6:12 PM EST

New York state logs over 5,000 cases for first time since April

New York state reported more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since late April, when the state was ground zero for the pandemic. 

On Thursday, 5,401 people tested positive for COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office announced. A record 203,721 tests were reported, for a positivity rate of 2.65% -- one of the lowest in the nation, the governor said.

People queue up to get tested for COVID-19 at a City MD location in New York, Nov. 13, 2020.
Peter Foley/EPA via Shutterstock

"The bad news is we are in the midst of a sea of COVID rising around us," Cuomo said in a statement.

He warned that the state may need to take additional steps to combat the spread of the virus as the holiday season approaches and travel will likely increase.

ABC News' Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report.

Nov 13, 2020, 4:29 PM EST

2-week freeze statwide for Oregon, governor announces

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a statewide two-week freeze with strict new measures.

The freeze will begin next Nov. 18 and will last through Dec. 2, covering the Thanksgiving holiday. The governor said that COVID-19 hotspots would see the freeze extended, and that Multnomah County (which includes Portland) would be in the freeze for at least four weeks.

Restrictions include:

-Restaurants limited to takeout only
-Retail, groceries, pharmacies limited to 75% capacity, curbside pickup strongly encouraged
-Gyms closed
-Houses of worship limited to 25 individuals indoors, or 50 individuals outdoors
-Remote work is required if at all possible
-Social gatherings must be limited to two households, 6 people max
-Individuals who live alone should choose up to five people to socialize with for the next two weeks

Schools that meet the state’s current metrics to be open will remain open. Personal care services like chiropractors and physical therapy will continue. Outdoor recreation is strongly encouraged.

The governor also gave a preview of her Thanksgiving plans.

PHOTO: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks, Nov. 10, 2020, in Portland, Ore.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks, Nov. 10, 2020, in Portland, Ore. Brown and Oregon health officials warned Tuesday of the capacity challenges facing hospitals as COVID-19 case counts continue to spike in the state.
Cathy Cheney/AP

She said she will invite over one other household, her daughter-in-law's, and they will eat outside as long as it’s not raining, and will wear a mask at all times when not eating or drinking.

ABC News' Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report.

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