Coronavirus updates: New cases on the rise in 49 states, territories
Weekly cases and deaths are both up more than 15% over the previous week.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.2 million people worldwide.
Over 46.5 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 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 9.2 million diagnosed cases and at least 231,003 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.
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New cases on the rise in 49 states, territories
New COVID-19 cases are on an upward trajectory in 49 states and territories, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News.
Three jurisdictions are at plateau, while cases in four jurisdictions are going down, the memo said.
In total, 565,606 new cases and 5,782 deaths were reported during the period of Oct 24-30, representing a 15.8% increase from the previous seven-day period.
The national test-positivity rate also increased to 6.8% from 6.4% in week-to-week comparisons.
And 21% of hospitals across the country reported having more than 80% of their ICU beds filled, compared to 17-18% during the summertime peak.
-ABC News' Josh Margolin
Highest 1-week increase in US COVID cases among children
Nearly 200,000 children in the United States tested positive for COVID-19 last month including 61,000 new cases reported in the one-week period ending Oct. 29, according to state health department data compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.
That one-week stretch marks the greatest single weekly increase in new cases among children seen thus far in the U.S. outbreak.
"This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone – including our children and adolescents," Dr. Sally Goza, president of AAP, said in a statement. "This virus is highly contagious, and as we see spikes in many communities, children are more likely to be infected, too."
In total, more than 853,000 kids have tested positive for COVID-19, a number AAP believes to be low, given that children often experience mild COVID symptoms and aren’t tested as frequently as adults.
Massachusetts announces new lockdown measures starting Friday
Gov. Charlie Baker rolled out a series of executive orders in Massachusetts Monday as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise.
According to the governor's office, residents are to be at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., although going to work, essential trips for food and medicine and exercising outdoors are still permitted. In-person dining in restaurants will end at 9:30 p.m.
Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people; 25 for outdoor events. Anyone found not to be in compliance with the new rules can be fined up to $500 for each person above the limit.
The new orders, which take effect on Nov. 6, come after Massachusetts reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases for nine consecutive days.
ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.
Lessons from South Korea's COVID response: WHO
The world can learn from countries that have successfully reduced the number of COVID-19 cases, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a remote press conference Monday.
Tedros, who is currently quarantining after being exposed to someone with COVID-19, invited professor Yae-jean Kim, an infectious disease expert from Seoul's Samsung Medical Center in South Korea, to explain how the country brought its outbreak under control. According to Kim, the key elements of South Korea’s response were rapid PCR testing and isolation; transparent communication with the public through press releases and conferences; and public participation and compliance with public health measures.
ABC News’ Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
