A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 66.4 million people and killed over 1.5 million worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here's how the news developed this week. All times Eastern.
Dec 05, 2020, 2:54 PM EST
US death toll passes 280K
The United States death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 280,000 Saturday afternoon.
At least 280,090 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S. surpassed 270,000 deaths on Tuesday.
The seven-day average for daily deaths is 1,949, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted this week that the U.S. death toll from the virus could reach 329,000 by Dec. 26.
-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway
Dec 05, 2020, 1:44 PM EST
Logistical details remain in handling of Pfizer vaccine
As states begin dry runs for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer and the federal government are still hammering out logistics around handling the company's candidate, ABC News has learned.
HonorHealth in Phoenix ran a simulation on Friday for how it would distribute a vaccine to health care workers once the FDA approves a candidate. But it was incomplete due to the remaining logistical questions.
HonorHealth ran a vaccine distribution simulation in Phoenix on Dec. 4, 2020.
GMA
After each vial of Pfizer's vaccine is removed from ultra-cold storage at minus 80 degrees Celsius, it is thawed, then diluted with saline by trained chemists who then portion it out into five separate syringes.
But some intricacies of the process are unknown, such as how many times the vaccine's shipping container can be opened, how much time can elapse between thawing and injection, and how the dose should be transported to the injection site.
The hospital is also uncertain how many doses it will receive and when, should the FDA authorize emergency use of Pfizer's vaccine.
Pfizer has not commented on the specific handling of the vaccine once it's taken out of the freezers and thawed.
-ABC News' Matt Gutman
Dec 05, 2020, 11:39 AM EST
MLB suing insurance companies over multi-billion dollar virus-related losses
Major League Baseball and its teams are suing their insurance providers, citing billions of dollars lost in the 2020 season related to the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press reported.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by AP, MLB alleges that "providers AIG, Factory Mutual and Interstate Fire and Casualty Company have refused to pay claims made by MLB despite the league’s 'all-risk' policy purchases."
“Due to COVID-19, the Major League Baseball entities, including those of the 30 major league clubs, have incurred significant financial losses as a result of our inability to play games, host fans and otherwise conduct normal business operations during much of the 2020 season,” the league said in a statement to the AP. “We strongly believe these losses are covered in full by our insurance policies, and are confident that the court and jury will agree.”
The insurance providers have not responded to a request for comment from the AP.
Dec 04, 2020, 10:52 PM EST
LA mayor: 'This is the greatest threat to life'
An exploding number of cases in Southern California had Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti pleading with residents Friday to take the pandemic seriously.
"If things don't change by year's end, the lives lost will surpass 11,000 deaths," Garcetti said. "That means 3,000 additional deaths in a single month. To put things in perspective, it's a decade of homicides."
"This is the greatest threat to life in Los Angeles," he added.
The county reported 8,860 cases on Friday, a number Garcetti said he "can hardly believe." The county recorded more cases in the past week than it did in all of October, according to the mayor. It also recorded 60 new deaths on Friday.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gestures as people vote in the U.S. presidential election on the first day of expanded California in-person voting, amid the global outbreak of COVID-19, at Dodger Stadium sports venue in Los Angeles, Oct. 30, 2020.
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Right now, more than 15% of intensive care unit beds remain available, a number that would trigger new closures if crossed. However, the number of beds are quickly filling up. The mayor said the county could cross 85% of ICU beds filled this weekend. A regional stay-at-home order, as has been implemented in the San Francisco Bay area, would be triggered and stay in place for at least three weeks.
Garcetti showed little doubt the percentage would be crossed -- and continue to grow.
"At this rate we will be out of beds in two to four weeks," Garcetti said.
