Coronavirus updates: CDC forecasts up to 226,000 US deaths by mid-October
The national death toll currently stands at more than 202,000.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 980,000 people worldwide.
Over 32 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 criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has varied from country-to-country. Still, 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.
Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the virus has rapidly spread to every continent except Antarctica.
The United States is the worst-affected country, with more than 6.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 202,728 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 799,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 746,000 cases and over 693,000 cases, respectively.
Nearly 170 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least six of which are in crucial phase three trials.
Latest headlines:
CDC forecasts 214,000-226,000 deaths by Oct. 17
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasts that the U.S. will lose another 3,400 to 7,400 lives to COVID-19 by Oct. 17, bringing the nationwide death toll to between 214,000 and 226,000.
The national death toll currently stands at 202,404, according to Johns Hopkins University.
ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
Boulder bans gatherings for 18 to 22 year olds
In Boulder, Colorado, people ages 18 to 22 will soon be banned from all gatherings, whether indoors, outdoors, or with people outside that age range, the Boulder County Public Health Department announced.
This comes after nearly three weeks of cases rising in Boulder County, "with the vast majority" connected to 18 to 22 year olds, "particularly those attending the University of Colorado Boulder," the department said.
"While there has been little evidence of spread of the virus beyond the 18-22 age group, the continued increase in new cases in the city of Boulder prompted the Public Health Order to help prevent the spread to other community members," the department said.
The health department also calls out 36 addresses where the department claims residents "repeatedly engaged in activities that violate public health orders." Those residents must stay in their homes for two weeks, only leaving for essential services, according to the Health Department.
The order will last for two weeks, beginning at 4 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Residents in the 18 to 22 age group are exempt for exercising outside alone, studying outside alone and going to work if they don’t live in one of the homes with stay-at-home requirements.
Young adults can interact with relatives they live with, and those in high school can participate in school activities, the department added.
"While there has been little evidence of spread of the virus beyond the 18-22 age group, the continued increase in new cases in the city of Boulder prompted the Public Health Order to help prevent the spread to other community members," the department said.
ABC News' Jennifer Watts contributed to this report.
UK reports highest number of new daily cases
The United Kingdom reported 6,634 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, reaching a new record high.
The number of hospital admissions is also on the rise.
The U.K. now has over 412,000 coronavirus cases and at least 41,951 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins data.
ABC News' Mike Trew contributed to this report.
Contact tracing app launched in England, Wales
The United Kingdom’s long-awaited contact tracing app launched in England and Wales on Thursday.
The app, available to download for free on iPhones and Androids, alerts users if they've come into contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
"The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case," the Department of Health and Social Care said. "It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results."
The BBC reported that over 1 million people have already downloaded the app.
ABC News' Mike Trew contributed to this report.