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.
The U.S. marked a grim milestone in the pandemic, with the COVID-19 death toll passing 250,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
There have been 250,029 confirmed deaths due to the virus, based on the university's tracker. The tally crossed a quarter million shortly before 6 p.m. ET.
Globally, over 1.3 million people have died from COVID-19.
The U.S. has had the most deaths out of any country, according to the JHU tracker, accounting for 18.6% of the global total, followed by Brazil at 166,699 (12.4%), India at 130,993 (9.7%) and Mexico at 99,026 (7.4%).
Nov 18, 2020, 4:24 PM EST
Kentucky issues new restrictions as positivity rate rises
Bars and restaurants in Kentucky soon will be closed for indoor service, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
Private gatherings will be limited to two households -- not to exceed eight people -- and larger events such as weddings and funerals will be limited to 25 people, he said.
"We have been under attack, we have been at war with this coronavirus," Beshear said, calling the new restrictions a third "counter-attack."
The state's positivity rate has increased to 9.13%, which Beshear called "alarming."
A sign informing people of COVID-19 testing sits in front of Walgreens in Lexington, Ky., Nov. 13, 2020.
Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS/Sipa via USA Today Network
The new measures go into effect Friday and last until Dec. 13.
Nov 18, 2020, 4:01 PM EST
Florida mayors beg governor to enact statewide mask mandate
The mayors of five Florida cities -- Miami Beach, St. Petersburg, Sunrise, Miami Shores and Hialeah -- are begging Gov. Ron DeSantis to enact a statewide mask mandate. At a Wednesday news conference, they also asked DeSantis to allow local governments to make decisions for their communities in regards to social distancing, contact tracing and testing.
“Since the governor opened up the economy totally in late September and simultaneously prevented local governments from enforcing individual mask mandates, we have seen an enormous surge," Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. "Our state's primary economic engine is hospitality, and people will not travel here if they believe it's unsafe. In fact, I'm convinced in projecting our state as a place where people are not wearing masks and where the virus is allowed to spread unconstrained will only serve to discourage visitors.”
“We are asking the governor to lead," Gelber said.
People line up at a COVID-19 rapid test site on Nov. 7, 2020 in Miami Beach, Fla.
Marta Lavandier/AP, FILE
"For whatever reason our governor has decided that he is going to follow the lead of our president and not listen to what the medical experts and what the health care experts are saying," added St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. "We have got to have a state that follows the same rules and puts in place the same rules as some of the other states around the country."
Florida on Wednesday topped 900,000 total COVID-19 cases.
ABC News' Rachel Katz contributed to this report.
Nov 18, 2020, 3:26 PM EST
19 US states hit record number of hospitalizations
According to the COVID Tracking Project, 19 U.S. stateshit a record number of current hospitalizations Tuesday: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Marissa Gallegos with Medical Teams Northwest takes a swab from a person while administering COVID-19 testing at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, Ore., Oct. 8, 2020.
Andy Nelson via via USA Today Network
Diners eat inside Masonry Grill observing social distancing in downtown Salem, Ore. Gov. Kate Brown's "pause" went into effect Nov. 11, limiting the number of people allowed in a restaurant to 50, staff included.
Brian Hayes/Stateman Journal via USA Today Network
Six states -- Idaho,Maine, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming -- reached a record number of new cases Tuesday. Four states -- Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico and Wisconsin -- recorded a record number of deaths.
Daily cases have climbed each day over the last week in the U.S., reaching 154,266 on Tuesday, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
A stadium worker helps a fan find their seat as they both wear required face coverings before the game between the Memphis Tigers and the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Sept. 5, 2020 in Memphis, Tenn.
Brett Carlsen/Getty Images, FILE
ABC News' Brian Hartman, Ben Bell, Soorin Kim and Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.
