Coronavirus updates: Over 7,000 Americans died in past week
The increase comes less than two weeks after Halloween.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.3 million people worldwide.
Over 53.2 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 10.7 million diagnosed cases and at least 244,283 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:
- National test-positivity rate above 10%: HHS
- Emergency Nurses Association asks Biden to include nurses in COVID task force
- Cases reach another high amid record growth
- Disneyland to remain closed at least through end of year
- Corey Lewandowski tests positive
- Fauci tells Americans to 'hang in there,' 'help is really on the way'
2-week freeze statwide for Oregon, governor announces
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced a statewide two-week freeze with strict new measures.
The freeze will begin next Nov. 18 and will last through Dec. 2, covering the Thanksgiving holiday. The governor said that COVID-19 hotspots would see the freeze extended, and that Multnomah County (which includes Portland) would be in the freeze for at least four weeks.
Restrictions include:
-Restaurants limited to takeout only
-Retail, groceries, pharmacies limited to 75% capacity, curbside pickup strongly encouraged
-Gyms closed
-Houses of worship limited to 25 individuals indoors, or 50 individuals outdoors
-Remote work is required if at all possible
-Social gatherings must be limited to two households, 6 people max
-Individuals who live alone should choose up to five people to socialize with for the next two weeks
Schools that meet the state’s current metrics to be open will remain open. Personal care services like chiropractors and physical therapy will continue. Outdoor recreation is strongly encouraged.
The governor also gave a preview of her Thanksgiving plans.
She said she will invite over one other household, her daughter-in-law's, and they will eat outside as long as it’s not raining, and will wear a mask at all times when not eating or drinking.
ABC News' Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report.
Virginia governor announces new statewide measures
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has announced new measures aimed at combatting the spread of coronavirus in the commonwealth. They include:
-All public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 25 individuals, down from the current cap of 250 people. This includes outdoor and indoor settings
-Expansion of mask mandate to all Virginians aged 5 and over, down from 10 years and older
-Tightened retail requirements for physical distances, face coverings and cleaning, now enforceable as a Class One misdemeanor
-On-site alcohol curfew: The on-site sale, consumption and possession of alcohol is prohibited after 10:00 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery or tasting room.
Virginia is averaging 1,500 newly reported COVID-19 cases per day, up from a statewide peak of approximately 1,200 in May.
ABC News' Dee Carden contributed to this report.
Over 7,000 American lives lost in past week
The United States set a new record for reported cases in a week, breaking 900,000 for the first time in the pandemic. Nearly half of those cases -- 426,014 -- were recorded in the last three days, according to ABC News' analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project
Sixteen states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico, hit a record number of new coronavirus cases as of data released Thursday.
In addition, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia hit a record number of current hospitalizations as of data from Thursday.
With nine days over the 100,000 mark, the seven-day national average has soared in the past week, increasing by 40% since last Thursday. Daily case numbers have also now been on the rise for two months now -- increasing nationally by approximately 281% since Sept. 12, with every state currently reporting an increasing number of new COVID-19 cases.
This week also marked yet another concerning milestone as the U.S. surpassed its previous record for the number of patients hospitalized nationwide. The number continues to rise with over 67,000 currently sick in the hospital.
The U.S. is currently averaging a death rate of over 1,000 new deaths reported per day. In the last seven days, states have reported 7,373 American lives lost to the virus.
The U.S. is currently averaging 1.4 million new tests a day. Testing is up 13% this week, however, this increase cannot account for a 40% increase in cases, according to ABC News' analysis of COVID Tracking Project data.
ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.
Emergency Nurses Association asks Biden to include nurses in COVID task force
A letter from the Emergency Nurses Association on behalf of its 52,000 members to President-elect Joe Biden, urged him to include nurses in his COVID-19 task force.
On Nov. 9, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris rolled out their transition COVID-19 advisory board.
"Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts," Biden said in a press release announcing the board.
"We were surprised that although the group contains ten medical doctors of varying specialties, there were no nurses -- and especially those nurses who are providing care on the front lines during this pandemic or have clinical expertise in infectious disease management -- named to the task force," the ENA's letter read.
"Nurses, including emergency nurses, have been on the frontlines of the pandemic since day one, performing critical triage, testing and bedside care functions for their patients," it continued. "Once a vaccine is approved, nurses will play a critical role in its administration to the public."
The ENA asked Biden to "expand the membership of your COVID-19 Task Force to include the unique perspective and clinical expertise of America’s nurses."
ABC News' Alexandra Svokos and Molly Nagle contributed to this report.