Coronavirus updates: Space Force's second in command tests positive

The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed over 1.1 million people worldwide.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Ivan Pereira
Video byJessie DiMartino
Last Updated: October 28, 2020, 8:39 PM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.

Over 44.3 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 8.8 million diagnosed cases and at least 227,673 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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed today. All times Eastern.
Oct 28, 2020, 8:39 PM EDT

Space Force general tests positive

The No. 2 in command of the Space Force has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to federal officials.

Gen. David D. Thompson, vice chief of space operations, took the test after he learned he came in contact with a close family member who contracted the virus, according to the U.S. Air Force.

PHOTO: The chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force displays the service’s uniform name tapes in the Pentagon Jan. 17, 2020, in Arlington, Va.
The chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force displays the service’s uniform name tapes in the Pentagon Jan. 17, 2020, in Arlington, Va. The Space Force is the sixth branch of service that was established during the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 20, 2019.
U.S. Space Force

"In accordance with established COVID policies, General Thompson is self-quarantining and working remotely from home," the Air Force said in a statement.

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

Oct 28, 2020, 6:30 PM EDT

Americans will receive vaccine at no cost: Feds

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed Wednesday that any COVID-19 vaccine authorized or approved by Food and Drug Administration will be available at no cost to Americans.

The agency will require that Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance to cover the cost of administering the vaccine and said medical providers will be reimbursed for administering vaccines to individuals without insurance.

"The rule covers both vaccines authorized through an emergency authorization and full licensing approval," CMS Administrator Seema Varma said on a call with reporters.

Varma said that the policy will be in place regardless of the results of the election.

ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs contributed to this report.

Oct 28, 2020, 6:18 PM EDT

Cases expected to increase in 49 states, half substantially: Report

The PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia released a coronavirus forecast Wednesday saying "all states except Hawaii will see increased case counts over the next four weeks with at least half expected to have substantial case growth."

"The researchers warn that the projected rate of growth of this fall wave could overwhelm contact tracing efforts and threaten the effectiveness of school safety plans, eventually necessitating many schools to revert to online learning, particularly for older students, until the surge has passed," PolicyLab said in a statement.

Researchers forecast a higher growth in the Northeast as temperatures continue to drop.

"Resurgence risk [is] growing more quickly than anticipated in the warmer climate zones of the southern U.S," PolicyLab said.

ABC News' Brian Hartman contributed to this report.

Oct 28, 2020, 5:00 PM EDT

Study finds antibodies last up to 5 months for most

A Mount Sinai study published Wednesday in the journal "Science" found that most people who experienced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms have "a robust antibody response" that kills the virus and is "relatively stable for at least five months."

"While some reports have come out saying antibodies to this virus go away quickly, we have found just the opposite -- that more than 90 percent of people who were mildly or moderately ill produce an antibody response strong enough to neutralize the virus, and the response is maintained for many months," Florian Krammer, a senior author of the paper and a professor of vaccinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said in a statement.

"Determining the duration and levels of antibody that protect us from reinfection" is "essential for effective vaccine development," Krammer added.

The study included data from 30,082 people.