A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 102.5 million people worldwide and killed over 2.2 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jan 29, 2021, 4:19 PM EST
CDC extends moratorium on evictions through March
The CDC is extending its moratorium on housing evictions through March 31, citing the health threat it poses.
The order had been set to expire on Jan. 31.
Bluu Davis speaks outside of City Hall about being served an eviction notice as she joins the Memphis Tenants Union in their demands for protections against evictions slated for thousands later this month in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 14, 2021.
Joe Rondone via USA Today Network
“Keeping people in their homes and out of congregate settings -- like shelters -- is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19,” the CDC said in a statement.
ABC News’ Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
Jan 29, 2021, 1:27 PM EST
Fauci: UK variant will likely become more 'dominant' in US
At Friday’s White House press briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the United Kingdom variant will likely become more “dominant” in the U.S. toward the end of March or early April.
In this Jan. 21, 2021, photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Alex Brandon/AP, FILE
There are 379 confirmed cases across 29 states of the B117 strain of the coronavirus, according to CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Fauci indicated that the evolving nature of the virus is something the medical community will have to continue dealing with going forward.
“Even though the long-range effect in the sense of severe disease is still handled reasonably well by the vaccines, this is a wake-up call to all of us, that we will be dealing, as the virus uses its devices to evade pressure, particularly immunological pressure, that we will continue to see the evolution of mutants,” he said.
A researcher at Aalborg University stands behind a safety screen to screen and analyze all positive Danish coronavirus samples for the virus variant cluster B117 from the United Kingdom, in Aalborg, Denmark, Jan. 15, 2021, during the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Henning Bagger/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Fauci also indicated that the fight to contain the new variants will impact the vaccine response.
“We, as a government, the companies, all of us that are in this together, will have to be nimble to be able to just adjust readily to make versions of the vaccine that actually are specifically directed towards whatever mutation is actually prevalent at any given time,” he said.
ABC News’ Matthew Vann contributed to this report.
Jan 29, 2021, 12:02 PM EST
Limited indoor dining can resume in NYC on Valentine's Day
People dine inside a restaurant on Nov. 9, 2020 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images, FILE
Indoor dining was shut down in New York City in December.
On March 15, in-person weddings can resume in New York at 50% capacity, or up to 150 people, he said.
Meanwhile, in hard-hit Los Angeles County, outdoor dining is now allowed to reopen at 50% capacity, but with a restriction: TVs must remain off.
Jan 29, 2021, 11:18 AM EST
US numbers still high but trends are encouraging: CDC expert
Dr. Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday the U.S. has seen a decline in the last two weeks of new cases and hospitalizations, which is “encouraging." But, he added, "The numbers nationally are still high."
"The pandemic is not yet over yet," Butler told the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "By the time we end our 45 minutes together, roughly 100 more Americans will have died of COVID-19."
A sign points to the location of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination station at Menominee Indian High School in Menominee county, Wisc., Jan. 28, 2021.
Lauren Justice/Reuters
People from rural communities receive their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinations at Menominee Indian High School in Menominee county, Wisc., Jan. 28, 2021.
Lauren Justice/Reuters
Butler stressed that the vaccines are safe and effective and that mild side effects are normal.
"The available data tells us that more than half of people have reported some degree of tiredness and pain at the injection site, although most are able to continue normal daily activities," Butler said. "Many also report symptoms such as headache, muscle pain or chills after getting their shots, particularly in the first couple of days. These data also suggest that it may be more common among younger persons after the second dose, but again, this is expected based on some of the data that were available from the clinical trials."
ABC News’ Sophie Tatum contributed to this report.