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 18, 2020, 10:04 PM EST

New cases up nearly 40% from last week, according to HHS memo

New COVID-19 cases in the U.S. increased nearly 40% in week-over-week comparisons, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News. 

The number of new cases confirmed from Nov. 11 to 17 (over 1.1 million) was a 38.9% increase from the previous seven-day period, the memo said. The national test-positivity rate increased to 11% from 9.3% during that time.

Signage hangs on entry doors to a hospital wing housing coronavirus patients at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, Wis., Nov. 18, 2020.
Daniel Acker/Reuters

Deaths also increased 8.4% in week-to-week comparisons, the memo said.

Across the country, 27% of hospitals have more than 80% of their intensive care unit beds filled. That number was 17% to 18% during the summertime peak.

Arkansas and Indiana have recently reported record hospitalizations, HHS said, while Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma have also seen notable increases. In Minnesota, the areas bordering Wisconsin are reporting over 85% usage of critical care beds at hospitals, according to the memo.

ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.

Nov 18, 2020, 9:15 PM EST

US records highest daily death count since May

The U.S. saw 1,869 deaths reported on Wednesday, the highest daily death count since May 7, according to The COVID Tracking Project.

The country saw nearly 164,000 new cases and more than 79,000 Americans are hospitalized with the virus, a record number according to the health data.

A dozen states, including New York, Florida, California and Indiana, recorded more than 5,000 new cases, according to the data.

Twenty-six states currently have over 1,000 patients in the hospital for COVID-19-related issues, according to The COVID Tracking Project.

Nov 18, 2020, 8:40 PM EST

Minnesota to enact new restrictions

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced a new set of coronavirus restrictions for nonessential businesses will go into effect this weekend.

Starting at midnight on Saturday, all restaurants are closed to in-person dining and gyms and other indoor entertainment will be closed. In-person social gatherings outside of the household are prohibited, as are weddings, private parties and other social occasions.

Hair salons, barbershops and retail stores are exempt from the new restrictions. Places of worship, schools, dental offices and elective surgeries, which are already operating in a limited fashion, will also not be further limited by the new restrictions.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gets ready to address a news conference on COVID-19 alongside state health officials, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020.
Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP

"Today marks a somber milestone in the pandemic as we surpass 3,000 Minnesotans lost to COVID-19," Walz said.

The governor added that hospitals are at the "breaking point" and nearing a situation where they will have to turn away new patients.

The restrictions will remain in effect for at least four weeks.

Nov 18, 2020, 6:38 PM EST

Kansas issues statewide mask mandate

Kansas became the latest state to issue a mask mandate, as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths spike.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced the executive order Wednesday, which would require Kansans to wear face coverings inside public spaces or in situations where physical distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained.

Children younger than 5 and people with medical conditions are exempt.

The order begins Nov. 25 and will be in effect indefinitely. 

The mandate follows a similar order issued in Iowa on Monday, as the Midwest experiences a surge of COVID-19 cases.

ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.

Related Topics