Coronavirus updates: Trump calls diagnosis 'blessing in disguise'
Oregon is facing "explosive growth in case counts."
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1 million people worldwide.
Over 36 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 7.5 million diagnosed cases and at least 211,725 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 841,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 803,000 cases and over 722,000 cases, respectively.
More than 190 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, at least seven of which are in crucial phase three trials.
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Scotland bans indoor alcohol sales in pubs, cafes and restaurants
Pubs, restaurants and cafes in most of Scotland will be prohibited from selling alcohol indoors to try to curb the spread of COVID-19, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, according to the Press Association.
The ban begins on Friday and will end Oct. 25.
Without taking action, the country risks "returning to the peak level of infection by the end of the month," Sturgeon warned.
According to the BBC, after months of maintaining a positivity rate below 5%, it climbed to more than 10% by the end of September.
Scotland, which has recorded 1,054 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, has seen at least 2,533 total fatalities.
Select areas also will be closing bowling alleys, pool halls and casinos, and suspending outdoor live events, contact sports and adult indoor exercise classes. Those closures will be in effect for two weeks beginning Oct. 10.
ABC News' Dimitrije Stejic and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Committee for Tokyo Olympics cutting costs
The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, looking to simplify the postponed 2021 Games, on Wednesday announced new initiatives that will help save an estimated $280 million.
The new initiatives include spending less on venues in the Olympic and Paralympic Village and optimizing the Olympic torch relay.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Boston pauses school reopening plans as cases rise
Boston is pausing its school reopening plan as coronavirus cases rise in the city and across Massachusetts, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Wednesday.
Fourth through eighth grade classes were set to transition to a hybrid learning model the week of Nov. 5, and ninth through 12th grade classes the week of Nov. 16 -- but now in-person start dates will be determined at a later date.
Preschoolers and kindergartners set to return to the classroom on Monday now will have to wait until at least Oct. 22.
Boston Public Schools began its first full week of hybrid learning last week for students with special needs, English language learners and for students who are homeless. These 1,300 high-need students will continue with in-person learning should their parents so choose.
The decision comes after Boston’s rate of positivity climbed over 4%. Coronavirus cases have been steadily rising in Massachusetts since early September, with the state's seven-day average rising 109% over the last month.
The city will re-evaluate reopening schools later this month based on the data in the coming weeks.
ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.
Fauci warns US could have 300-400k COVID-19 deaths
Between 300,000 and 400,000 people could die from COVID-19 in the United States, according to the nation's top expert on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, offered the grim prediction while speaking at a virtual event hosted by American University on Tuesday.
"The models tell us that if we do not do the kinds of things that we're talking about in the cold of the fall and the winter, we could have from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths," Fauci said. "That would be just so tragic if that happens."
More than 210,000 people across the nation have died from the disease so far.