US sets new daily case record for 2nd straight day
The U.S. reached its single-day record with over 90,000 COVID-19 cases.
Over 45.4 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 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.
COVID-19 has killed more than 1.18 million people worldwide.
The United States is the worst-affected nation, with more than 9 million diagnosed cases and at least 229,585 lives lost.
The U.S. battle against the pandemic is headed in a dangerous direction as the nation reached its single-day record for cases on Thursday, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Forty-two states and territories are in an upward trajectory of new cases, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News.
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US passes 9 million COVID-19 cases
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States has surpassed 9 million.
There were 9,007,298 cases reported by 4 p.m. Friday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden reacted to the number in a statement, calling it "as severe an indictment of a president's record as one can possibly imagine," and "utterly disqualifying."
"Anyone who is responsible for plunging and ensnaring America in this crisis -- anyone who could do so without an ounce of shame or a shred of empathy -- should not be president," Biden wrote on Friday.
There have been 229,293 reported COVID-19 deaths.
The U.S. passed 8 million cases on Oct. 16.
US sees record number of daily COVID-19 cases
The United States set a new record in single-day COVID-19 cases Friday, according to several data trackers.
There were 92,630 new COVID-19 cases reported between 5 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday, according to date from Johns Hopkins University.
Another tally, by The New York Times, also saw a record number of new cases on Friday, with 90,728.
And The COVID Tracking Project put the nation’s daily case numbers at 97,080, far surpassing Thursday's record of 88,452. The current case surges indicate "uncontrolled spread" of COVID-19, the group said.
Cruises can return after companies prove compliance using volunteer passengers on 'simulated voyages': CDC
A day before its No Sail Order is set to expire, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that cruise lines can resume operations after companies prove compliance using volunteer passengers on "simulated voyages."
The passengers must agree to testing before and after the cruise, have no pre-existing conditions and consent to potentially putting themselves at risk. The CDC's new Conditional Sail Order has also outlined requirements around sanitation, social distancing and crew testing.
Cruise lines can apply for a Conditional Sailing Certificate if they have "successfully conducted a simulated voyage or series of simulated voyages demonstrating the cruise ship operator’s ability to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 onboard its cruise ship,” the order stated.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean called the announcement "an important step in the right direction."
"While we are eager to welcome our guests back on board, we have a lot to do between now and then, and we’re committed to taking the time to do things right," the company said.
It is not clear when the simulated voyages will begin.
Last month, the CDC extended a ban on large cruises in U.S. waters through Oct. 31.
ABC News Sam Sweeney, Mina Kaji and Gio Benitez contributed to this report.
Belgium introduces strict 'last-chance measures'
Belgium, Europe’s hardest-hit nation at this time, is introducing strict new rules.
Nonessential businesses are closing for six weeks and a nighttime curfew is in place. Outside gatherings are limited to three people, and residents can only have one person over to their home.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called these "last-chance measures" as Belgium hopes to prevent the collapse of its health care system.
Belgium reported a 21.1% positivity rate on Tuesday. Last week, there were an average of 13,052 new cases reported each day.
ABC News’ Aicha el Hammar and Kirit Radia contributed to this report.
ICU beds are 80% filled in quarter of US hospitals
With COVID-19 cases spiking across the U.S., hospitals are once again filling up. At least 25% of hospitals across the country have more than 80% of their ICU beds filled, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News.
The percentage of hospitals at that number was 17-18% during the summertime peak.
Two of the hardest-hit states include Idaho and Wisconsin.
Hospitals in Idaho are so constrained that the governor is moving the state back to Stage 3 of reopening plans.
Death rates in Idaho doubled from 22 to 44 between Oct. 19-25, as the statewide test positivity rate rose from 16.7% to 18.7%. That rate is more than triple the national rate. Hospitalizations have climbed sharply since the beginning of October and now the state has reported a new four-month peak of 14.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people during the week ending Oct 25.
In the southern town of Twin Falls, one out of every four hospitalized patients is infected with COVID-19 and regional hospitals have postponed non-emergency surgeries. At St. Luke Magic Valley, the COVID unit is 97% full, ICU units are running at least 125% above normal and adequate staffing is an issue, HHS said in its memo.
In Wisconsin, the state reported 5,262 new cases and a record 64 new deaths on Oct, 27, both of which were the highest for the state since the beginning of the pandemic.
The seven-day case average in the Badger State is 3,975 while the test-positivity rate is 25.7%.
Officials, according to the HHS memo, anticipate the situation will get worse in the coming weeks. At least 84% of all beds in the state are occupied with 447 patients on ventilators but Wisconsin does have 2,324 ventilators available.
