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Coronavirus updates: CDC forecasts up to 226K US deaths by mid-October

The national death toll currently stands at more than 202,000.

Last Updated: September 25, 2020, 4:31 AM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 980,000 people worldwide.

Over 32 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 6.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 202,728 deaths.

California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 799,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 746,000 cases and over 693,000 cases, respectively.

Nearly 170 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least six of which are in crucial phase three trials.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Sep 24, 2020, 3:38 PM EDT

CDC forecasts 214,000-226,000 deaths by Oct. 17

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasts that the U.S. will lose another 3,400 to 7,400 lives to COVID-19 by Oct. 17, bringing the nationwide death toll to between 214,000 and 226,000.

The national death toll currently stands at 202,404, according to Johns Hopkins University.

A volunteer places American flags representing the 200,000 lives lost in the United States in the coronavirus disease pandemic on the National Mall in Washington, U.S., Sept. 22, 2020.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters

A medical worker pushes a stretcher through a hallway at Mount Sinai Hospital in the Manhattan borough of New York which has treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients since March, on Sept. 22, 2020.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.

Sep 24, 2020, 3:29 PM EDT

Boulder bans gatherings for 18 to 22 year olds

In Boulder, Colorado, people ages 18 to 22 will soon be banned from all gatherings, whether indoors, outdoors, or with people outside that age range, the Boulder County Public Health Department announced.

This comes after nearly three weeks of cases rising in Boulder County, "with the vast majority" connected to 18 to 22 year olds, "particularly those attending the University of Colorado Boulder," the department said.

"While there has been little evidence of spread of the virus beyond the 18-22 age group, the continued increase in new cases in the city of Boulder prompted the Public Health Order to help prevent the spread to other community members," the department said.

A group of incoming freshmen play spike ball on campus after moving into dormitories at University of Colorado Boulder on Aug. 18, 2020.
Mark Makela/Getty Images, FILE

The health department also calls out 36 addresses where the department claims residents "repeatedly engaged in activities that violate public health orders." Those residents must stay in their homes for two weeks, only leaving for essential services, according to the Health Department.

The order will last for two weeks, beginning at 4 p.m. local time on Thursday.

Residents in the 18 to 22 age group are exempt for exercising outside alone, studying outside alone and going to work if they don’t live in one of the homes with stay-at-home requirements.

Young adults can interact with relatives they live with, and those in high school can participate in school activities, the department added.

"While there has been little evidence of spread of the virus beyond the 18-22 age group, the continued increase in new cases in the city of Boulder prompted the Public Health Order to help prevent the spread to other community members," the department said.

ABC News' Jennifer Watts contributed to this report.

Sep 24, 2020, 1:47 PM EDT

UK reports highest number of new daily cases

The United Kingdom reported 6,634 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, reaching a new record high.

Commuters wearing protective face coverings travel on Victoria line at rush hour in central London on Sept. 23, 2020.
Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

A man, not wearing a face covering, passes signs telling travellers they must wear face mask unless they are exempt, as he leaves Victoria station during the evening 'rush hour' in central London on Sept. 23, 2020.
Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

The number of hospital admissions is also on the rise.

The U.K. now has over 412,000 coronavirus cases and at least 41,951 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins data.

ABC News' Mike Trew contributed to this report.

Sep 24, 2020, 1:02 PM EDT

Contact tracing app launched in England, Wales

The United Kingdom’s long-awaited contact tracing app launched in England and Wales on Thursday.

The app, available to download for free on iPhones and Androids, alerts users if they've come into contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.

"The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case," the Department of Health and Social Care said. "It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results."

The BBC reported that over 1 million people have already downloaded the app.

ABC News' Mike Trew contributed to this report.

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