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Coronavirus updates: FDA OKs remdesivir as 1st approved treatment in US

Remdesivir had already received emergency use authorization.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Ivan Pereira
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 23, 2020, 3:30 PM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.

Over 41.5 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 criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has varied from country to country. Still, 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.

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 country, with more than 8.4 million diagnosed cases and at least 223,000 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 893,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 871,000 cases and over 768,000 cases, respectively.

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 developed today. All times Eastern.
Oct 22, 2020, 7:25 PM EDT

New US cases, deaths rose by double digits over last week: HHS

The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths in the country rose by double-digit percentage points over the last week, according to an internal memo by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that was obtained by ABC News.

There were 417,899 new cases confirmed during the period between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21, according to the memo. This number was a 14% increase from the previous seven-day period, HHS said.

A quarter of the nation's hospitals have more than 80% of their intensive care unit beds filled, according to the memo.

During that seven-day period there were 5,413 deaths recorded across the country, a 10.6% increase from the previous week, according to HHS.

The national test-positivity rate increased to 5.8% from 5.1% in week-to-week comparisons, HHS said.

The agency memo said 41 states and territories are in an upward trajectory of new cases, five jurisdictions are at plateau and nine are going down.

-ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.

Oct 22, 2020, 4:36 PM EDT

FDA OKs remdesivir as 1st approved treatment in US

The Food and Drug Administration has approved remdesivir for use on hospitalized patients, making the drug the first and only approved treatment for COVID-19 in the U.S.

Remdesivir had already received emergency use authorization. The drug has been shown to speed the recovery time of hospitalized patients.

An ampule of the antiviral drug remdesivir is pictured during a news conference at the University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, Germany, on April 8, 2020.
Ulrich Perrey/Pool via Reuters, FILE

Remdesivir was among the drugs President Donald Trump was taking after his COVID-19 diagnosis.

ABC News' Eric Strauss and Sony Salzman contributed to this report.

Oct 22, 2020, 3:31 PM EDT

Ohio sets another record for highest daily case count

Ohio reported 2,425 new cases in the last 24 hours -- setting yet another record for highest daily case count.

“Of the 10 highest days of new cases reported, eight have occurred in just the past nine days. Nine have occurred in the month of October alone," Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday.

PHOTO: Shonna Bland, owner of the Top Notch Diner, poses inside the restaurant in Cortland, Ohio, Oct. 2, 2020.
Shonna Bland, owner of the Top Notch Diner, poses inside the restaurant in Cortland, Ohio, Oct. 2, 2020.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters, FILE

Ohio now has over 190,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 5,161 deaths.

"Sadly, our situation in Ohio continues to worsen,” DeWine tweeted.

"It's time to pay attention and get serious. The spread of COVID-19 is getting worse by the minute," the governor continued. "The government is not going to come knocking on your door to make sure you aren't having a party -- we all have a personal responsibility to take precautions and stay safe."

Oct 22, 2020, 3:19 PM EDT

Chicago mayor announces overnight curfew for businesses

As cases rise in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a string of new rules Thursday, including that nonessential businesses must follow a curfew and close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

People eat in a greenhouse structure at Duck Duck Goat restaurant on Fulton Market in Chicago, Oct. 18, 2020.
Nam Y. Huh/AP

"Essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will be able to stay open," Lightfoot tweeted.

Also among the new rules are: the last call for serving liquor will be 9 p.m. and bars without food licenses cannot have any indoor service.

The new regulations go into effect on Friday

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