Coronavirus updates: Space Force's second in command tests positive
The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed over 1.1 million people worldwide.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.
Over 44.3 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.
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 nation, with more than 8.8 million diagnosed cases and at least 227,673 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:
April 2021 Boston Marathon postponed
The Boston Marathon set for April 2021 will be postponed until at least the fall of 2021, the Boston Athletic Association announced Wednesday.
The postponement comes amid a rise of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts. This year's marathon was canceled.
Monday marked the state’s highest daily case count since the spring, the Boston Herald reported. Last week brought multiple days of daily case counts over 1,000, which the state hadn’t seen since the spring, the Herald said.
Massachusetts now has over 149,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 9,664 fatalities.
ABC News’ Leo Mayorga contributed to this report.
Italy, Greece report record increases again
Italy and Greece both reached new records for daily COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row.
Italy reported 24,991 new cases on Wednesday, breaking the record of 21,994 cases from Tuesday, according to the Civil Protection Agency.
Italy now has over 589,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 37,905 fatalities.
Greece set a new record with 1,547 new cases on Wednesday, up from Tuesday’s record of 1,259, according to the National Public Health Organization.
Greece now has over 34,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 603 deaths.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Germany to close restaurants, bars for 4 weeks
German officials have agreed to a partial shutdown, shuttering restaurants, bars and theaters for four weeks as COVID-19 cases climb, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, according to The Associated Press.
Germany has reported a record 14,964 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the nation’s total to over 464,000 cases, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
At least 10,183 people in Germany have died.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Fauci says we won’t have ‘some semblance of normality’ until at least 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Australians on Wednesday, "I think it will be easily by the end of 2021, and perhaps into the next year, before we start having some semblance of normality."
Fauci defined "normal" as packing theaters and restaurants operating at full capacity, according to The Age.
Fauci applauded Australia's response to the pandemic.
"Australia is one of the countries that has done quite well. New Zealand has done well," he said, according to The Age.
"I would like to say the same for the U.S., but the numbers speak for themselves," Fauci said, describing the U.S. as "getting worse and worse."