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 17, 2020, 10:31 PM EST

FDA authorizes 1st at-home rapid test

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorization for the first at-home rapid test for the SARS-CoV2 virus. The Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit is authorized for use at home or point of care in a doctor's office, but only with a prescription.

"While COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been authorized for at-home collection, this is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home. This new testing option is an important diagnostic advancement to address the pandemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said in a statement. 

FDA says the molecular test "works by swirling the self-collected sample swab in a vial that is then placed in the test unit. In 30 minutes or less, the results can be read directly from the test unit’s light-up display that shows whether a person is positive or negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus."

In this Aug. 2, 2018, file photo, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration building is seen behind FDA logos at a bus stop on the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Md.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP, File

Some experts have pushed for more development of at-home rapid tests, saying that if they were affordable and accessible -- like a pregnancy test -- people could test themselves daily before going to work, school or traveling. Since this test is prescription-only, it likely won't be that widely available yet, but other companies have submitted applications for similar technology and the FDA says that will be a priority. 

"A test that can be fully administered entirely outside of a lab or healthcare setting has always been a major priority for the FDA to address the pandemic. Now, more Americans who may have COVID-19 will be able to take immediate action, based on their results, to protect themselves and those around them," said Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement. "We look forward to proactively working with test developers to support the availability of more at-home test options."

ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs contributed to this report.

Nov 17, 2020, 9:29 PM EST

LA issues new business restrictions as cases rise

Los Angeles County will issue new limits on business and gatherings as the number of COVID-19 cases have doubled since the beginning of the month and hospitalizations are averaging 1,000 a day, according to health officials.

And if the trend continues, officials warn they will have to issue another stay-at-home order and curfew.

People eat behind protective glass at an MTO School of Sufism in LA lunch for essential workers, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease continues, in Los Angeles, Nov. 17, 2020.
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Starting Friday, nonessential businesses, including stores and offices, will be reduced to a maximum 25% occupancy.

Restaurants, breweries, wineries, bars and all other nonessential retail establishments will have to close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m, according to the health department.

Currently, LA County is reporting a five-day average of 2,884 cases and 1,126 hospitalized patients, according to officials.

If the five-day average rises to 4,000 cases or hospitalizations are more than 1,750 per day, the city will prohibit in-person dining, according to health officials.

If the five-day average rises to 4,500 or hospitalizations are more than 2,000 per day, the county will issue a stay-at-home order and general curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m, health officials said.

Nov 17, 2020, 8:55 PM EST

1 in 4 US hospitals nearing capacity ICU beds: HHS

Twenty-five percent of the nation's hospitals have more than 80% of their intensive care unit beds filled, according to an internal memo by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was obtained by ABC News.

The jump in hospitalizations came after the country saw new increases in coronavirus metrics over the last week, according to the agency.

Medical staff examine a patient suffering from coronavirus in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at United Memorial Medical Center on Nov. 16, 2020, in Houston.
Go Nakamura/Getty Images

Between Nov. 10 and Nov. 16, nearly 1.1 million new cases were confirmed in the country, a 35.2% increase from the previous seven-day period, according to the memo.

The positivity rate in the country surpassed 10% over the last week, HHS said.

The U.S. saw 8,501 new COVID-19 deaths from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16, which marked a 11.8% increase from the previous week, the memo said.

ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.

Nov 17, 2020, 8:40 PM EST

US deaths hit highest mark since May

The COVID Tracking Project said coronavirus-related deaths are on the rise in all four sections of the country and were higher today than on any day since May 14.

There were 155,201 cases and 1,565 deaths reported Tuesday, according to the data. Roughly 77,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with the virus and 20 states are at their record hospitalization rate, according to The COVID Tracking project.

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