Coronavirus updates: Florida State University president tests positive days after attending football game
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has killed over 1 million people worldwide.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1 million people worldwide.
Over 35.6 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 7.4 million diagnosed cases and at least 210,774 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 837,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 798,000 cases and over 720,000 cases, respectively.
More than 190 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least seven of which are in crucial phase three trials.
Latest headlines:
Florida State president tests positive days after attending football game
Florida State University President John Thrasher has tested positive for COVID-19 just days after attending the school's football game against Jacksonville State.
Thrasher's wife, Jean, also tested positive for the virus, the school announced.
"President Thrasher learned of his positive result at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after taking a PCR test earlier in the day," the school said in a press release. "Mrs. Thrasher learned of her positive diagnosis late Monday night after a recent stay in the hospital and a local rehabilitation facility for an unrelated condition."
The school president, 76, attended Saturday's football game, but the school said he had tested negative on Friday as part of routine regular testing. The school also said he "took appropriate precautions," though they did not offer further details other than saying he's been a big proponent of mask-wearing and social distancing.
Both are isolating, feeling well and Thrasher will continue to work remotely.
"We are feeling well at this time and truly appreciate everyone’s support and well wishes!" the president tweeted.
Florida State actually plays Notre Dame in football this weekend, with Notre Dame President John I. Jenkins testing positive for COVID over the weekend after attending the Rose Garden ceremony for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Country saw 1.1% increase in new cases week over week: FEMA
COVID cases are trending slightly up week-over-week, according to an internal FEMA memo obtained by ABC News.
There were 306,965 new cases confirmed between Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, which was a 1.1% increase from the previous seven-day period, according to the memo.
The national test-positivity rate rose to 5% from 4.5% in week-to-week comparisons, according to FEMA.
The memo stated that 34 states and territories are in an upward trajectory of new cases, six jurisdictions are at plateau and 16 states are going down.
The FEMA memo also said there were 4,962 deaths recorded during that time period, which was a 3.4% decrease in newly recorded deaths from the previous week.
ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
Green Bay Packers place indefinite hold on fans at games
The Green Bay Packers announced Tuesday that they will continue to play without fans at historic Lambeau Field indefinitely this season, as Wisconsin sees a jump in coronavirus cases.
Since Sept. 5, when the NFL season began, the state has recorded 48,847 new coroanvirus cases, according to the state Health Department. The state's seven-day average for percent positive tests per person has increased from 10% on Sept. 5, to 17% on Oct. 5, according to the Health Department.
"We are trending in the wrong direction in terms of hospitalization and positive cases, and based on recommendations from community healthcare and public health officials, hosting fans at the stadium for games is not advisable at this time," Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said in a news release.
Murphy said the team will continue to evaluate the situation and alert fans to any future updates. In the meantime, he urged them to wear masks, social distance and take other health precautions.
"When watching our games, please limit the people with whom you cheer to your small circle of family or close friends," he said.
The Packers have gotten off to a tremendous start this year, beating the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night to start the season 4-0.
Royal Caribbean extends cancellations through Nov. 30
Royal Caribbean said it’s extending cruise cancellations through Nov. 30 following consultations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cruise Lines International Association.
The cruise lines says it hopes to resume sailing on Dec. 1.
Sacred Heart University suspends over 100 students for violating COVID-19 policies
Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, has suspended more than 100 students for violating the school's COVID-19 policies, according to a report by New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH.
University officials confirmed to WTNH that there have been at least 109 suspensions since the start of the fall semester due to various health and safety violations that include not wearing face masks, not social distancing and having unauthorized visitors in residence hall rooms.
The suspended students were informed that they cannot come back to campus for periods ranging from one week to the rest of the semester. They will continue to attend classes remotely in the meantime, according to WTNH.
University leaders hope the suspensions send a clear message that the coronavirus pandemic remains a very real threat and that safety is the number one goal for a successful semester back on campus.
"We want everyone to protect themselves and protect each other so that we can end the semester here on campus and have a full semester of on-campus, on-ground learning,"Larry Weilk, dean of students at Sacred Heart University, told WTNH. "Prior to the start of the year, we developed what we call a pioneer promise where we asked all students faculty and staff to promise to protect themselves, the campus community, and the greater Bridgeport and Fairfield community as well."
"We’re all in this together," he added. "We’re all trying to protect each other and stay healthy."
