A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.
Over 42 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 223,730 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 894,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 871,000 cases and over 771,000 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.
Here's how the news developed today. All times Eastern.
Oct 23, 2020, 3:43 PM EDT
Delta puts 460 passengers on 'no-fly list' due to mask violations
Delta has added 460 people to its "no-fly list for refusing to comply with our mask requirement," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in an internal memo to employees.
"Wearing a mask is among the simplest and most effective actions we can take to reduce transmission, which is why Delta has long required them for our customers and our people," Bastian wrote Thursday.
Delta Air Lines passenger planes are seen parked due to flight reductions made to slow the spread of coronavirus disease, at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., March 25, 2020.
Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters, FILE
United said it has banned 335 customers from traveling on the airline due to noncompliance with the company's policy.
ABC News' Gio Benitez contributed to this report.
Oct 23, 2020, 12:10 PM EDT
Washington Football Team to allow 3,000 fans at stadium
The Washington Football Team will allow about 3,000 season ticket holders to attend its Nov. 8 game against the New York Giants, the team said Friday.
Everyone must wear a mask, use mobile ticketing, follow social distancing rules and pay without cash. Tailgating won't be allowed, the team said.
In this Sept. 13, 2020, file photo, seats at Fedex Field display the Washington Football Team logo in Landover, Md.
Susan Walsh/AP, FILE
The decision was made with "the state of Maryland's approval and under the supervision of Prince George's County," the team said, adding that it'll continue to re-evaluate fan numbers for future games.
ABC News' Leonardo Mayorga contributed to this report.
Oct 23, 2020, 11:54 AM EDT
Santa’s visit to Macy’s will be virtual this year
Despite a tradition started in 1861, Santa won’t be making his yearly trip to Macy’s New York City store this year due to the pandemic. Instead, his visit will be virtual.
Santa Claus float at the 93rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Nov. 28, 2019.
NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, FILE
From Nov. 27 to Dec. 24, families can take part in an “interactive, virtual experience” on the Macy’s website, Macy’s said in a statement Thursday.
"A special greeting from Santaland elves at the North Pole-bound train station kicks off the interaction," Macy’s said. "From there, the Elves will lead the way through Santa’s Village and Workshop, stopping to see the sights and play interactive games. At the finale of the journey, kids will meet Santa through a whimsical interactive video where they will be able to share their holiday wish list followed by snapping a selfie with Santa."
"Santa will also drop by @macys handles on a number of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to engage with fans in his uniquely whimsical way," Macy’s added.
Oct 23, 2020, 11:48 AM EDT
Trump administration delivering 125 million masks to states to help reopen schools, but still not tracking school outbreaks
The U.S. government is on track to distribute 125 million cloth masks to states and territories by the end of November to help reopen schools, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.
The 125 million masks were split evenly among adult and youth sizes. The distribution of adult-sized masks is complete, while the child-sized masks are being distributed as soon as they are manufactured. State governments are expected to handle distribution of the masks to schools.
The initiative is a small step in what remains a heavy lift for most local areas -- devising metrics that decide when a school opens or closes, and figuring out how to keep the novel coronavirus away from teachers, bus drivers and parents who could spread it throughout the broader community.
There is still no coordinated effort by the federal government to track COVID-19 outbreaks at schools nor to examine how students are -- or aren't -- contributing to community transmission. Most studies are limited in scope, often relying on schools that are willing to self-report cases. The lack of a nationwide tracking effort has prompted widespread frustration and confusion among parents and teachers on what benchmarks should be used for schools.
In a call with reporters Friday, a senior official with the U.S. Department of Education confirmed there was no effort underway by the administration to conduct a nationwide examination of school outbreaks.
"We feel that that option is, of course, best left to local leaders, those decisions," said Aimee Viana, principal deputy assistant secretary for the office of elementary and secondary education at the U.S. Department of Education.
A teacher instructs students at Freedom Preparatory Academy, Sept. 10, 2020, in Provo, Utah.
George Frey/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
President Donald Trump falsely claimed at Thursday night’s debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden that "the transmittal rate to the teachers is very small."
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the role children play in community transmission of COVID-19 isn’t fully understood, but its recently update guidance notes a "body of evidence is growing" that kids "might play a role in transmission."
The CDC and other health officials largely agree that if a community can get the virus under control, schools are safe to open.
Schools haven't been studied as closely because many remain closed and not every school is reporting outbreaks. One concern is that children might be transmitting the virus without exhibiting symptoms, and testing people without symptoms remains limited.
"That doesn’t mean that communities are on their own," Viana said. “The Trump administration will continue as we’ve done since the beginning of the outbreak to extend flexibilities and freedom to open safely and to ensure that that learning continues in each community."
ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
