Coronavirus updates: 23-year-old college student dies from COVID-19

Jamesha Waddell, a senior at Livingstone College, died Thursday.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Erin Schumaker, Ivan Pereira, Jon Haworth, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: November 23, 2020, 2:19 PM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.3 million people worldwide.

Over 58.7 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.

The United States is the worst-affected nation, with more than 12.2 million diagnosed cases and at least 256,783 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. All times Eastern.
Nov 16, 2020, 5:17 PM EST

California 'pulling the emergency brake' on reopening

Forty counties in California, representing 94% of the state's population, will move backward into the most restrictive reopening tier, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday.

"This is the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic," Newsom said. "California is pulling the emergency brake."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a COVID-19 testing facility in Valencia, Calif., Oct. 30, 2020.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP, FILE

The new restrictions end most indoor activities. Outdoor dining, gyms, religious services, movies and museums are still permitted. In addition to tightening rules on businesses, Newsom said he was discouraging non-essential out-of-state travel and considering implementing a curfew.

ABC News' Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report.

Nov 16, 2020, 4:44 PM EST

1 million US kids have had COVID-19

More than 1 million U.S. children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to a report published Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.

Last week, nearly 112,000 children were diagnosed, marking the largest weekly increase since the U.S. outbreak began.

Because states differ in how they report on age groups, this report includes infants through teens. In total, infections among children represent 11.5% of overall U.S. cases. Since COVID-19 symptoms in children tend to be milder than those in adults, experts believe many cases go undiagnosed and that current figures are most likely an undercount.

Nov 16, 2020, 3:59 PM EST

Philadelphia tightens COVID restrictions until Jan. 1

Philadelphia officials announced sweeping COVID-19 restrictions Monday that will last through the end of the year.

Colleges, universities and high schools are required to switch to online learning, and churches have been asked to hold online services. All employees able to work remotely should do so.

Additionally, outdoor gatherings will be limited to 10% occupancy, and food and beverages are not allowed to be served.

Dr. Thomas Farley, Health Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia provides an update, March 6, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILE

"I know these restrictions are tough," Dr. Thomas Farley, Philadelphia's health commissioner, said Monday. "People are going to be put out of work, and some businesses may go under," Farley added. "We also know that the consequences to health of not doing it are really bad."

"If we do this right, our businesses will recover faster because the epidemic wave will subside sooner."

The new rules go into effect on Friday.

Nov 16, 2020, 1:12 PM EST

Labor Department issues $2.8 million in fines to companies that didn't protect workers

The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued more than $2.8 million in fines for failing to properly protect employees from COVID-19.

The violations compiled by OSHA include failure to implement plans to protect workers from respiratory viruses; failure to provide workers with PPE or train them to wear it properly; failure to report illness or death; and failure to to provide a safe workplace.

Since the pandemic began, OSHA has issued 204 citations and $2,856,533 in penalties, many in nursing homes and health care facilities.

ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs contributed to this report.

Related Topics