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.

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Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.

Nov 19, 2020, 2:59 PM EST

National Zoo, Smithsonian museums to close

The National Zoo and all Smithsonian museums will close on Nov. 23 due to rising cases in the Washington, D.C., area and across the country, the Smithsonian said.

People walk past a merry-go-round and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum along the National Mall.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images, File

"Due to the changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a reopening date at this time," the Smithsonian said.

The pandemic had shuttered Smithsonian museums from March 14 through mid-September. They reopened gradually with timed-entry tickets.

Nov 19, 2020, 2:25 PM EST

US records deadliest day in over 6 months

Hours after the U.S. crossed the milestone of 250,000 deaths, states reported another 1,869 American lives lost on Wednesday -- the deadliest day in more than six months, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

PHOTO: People line up to be tested for the coronavirus at a free testing site in Seattle, Nov. 18, 2020. — People line up to be tested for the coronavirus at a free testing site in Seattle, Nov. 18, 2020. With coronavirus cases surging and families hoping to gather safely for Thanksgiving, long lines to get tested have reappeared across the U.S.
Elaine Thompson/AP

Daily fatalities have risen by 76% in the last month, averaging more than 1,200 daily.

Nearly 80,000 are hospitalized across the U.S. -- about 20,000 more than during peaks in April and July.

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos Brian Hartman, Soorin Kim and Ben Bell contributed to this report.

Nov 19, 2020, 12:33 PM EST

1 person dying of COVID-19 every 17 seconds in Europe

More than 29,000 people in Europe died last week of COVID-19, equalling one about every 17 seconds, said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the World Health Organization's regional director for the continent.

Medical workers provide care to a patient infected with COVID-19 disease in the "Hopital Prive de la Loire", in Saint-Etienne, France, on Nov. 6, 2020.
Jeff Pachoud/AFP via Getty Images

Some intensive care units in Switzerland are at full capacity, he said, while in France, intensive care wards have been at over 95% capacity for 10 days.

"Every time we choose to follow guidance, stop the spread of misinformation or address denial, we contribute to preventing lives lost," Kluge said. "This is avoidable."

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

Nov 19, 2020, 12:06 PM EST

CDC predicts at least 276,000 Americans dead by Dec. 12

The CDC predicts that between 276,000 and 298,000 Americans will be dead from COVID-19 by Dec. 12.

Earlier this month, the CDC forecasted that the U.S. would hit at least 250,000 deaths by Thanksgiving weekend. That grim milestone was reached on Wednesday.