Coronavirus updates: CDC issues stricter guidance for Thanksgiving
"Celebrate with people in your household," the agency says in updated guidance.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.2 million people worldwide.
Over 50.4 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 million diagnosed cases and at least 237,742 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:
Stricter COVID rules take effect in NJ Thursday, governor says
Gov. Phil Murphy announced stricter coronavirus rules in New Jersey Monday, including restrictions on bars, restaurants and casinos. Starting Nov. 12, indoor dining and drinks will be not be allowed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Takeout and delivery services, as well as outdoor dining, are still permitted. In addition to dining restrictions, all interstate games and tournaments for indoor youth sports are prohibited, starting Thursday.
"It is simply not safe for teams to be crossing state lines at this time to participate in indoor competitions," Murphy wrote on Twitter.
The rules come on the heels of rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in New Jersey, as well as a testing positivity rate that exceeds the threshold health experts recommend. "We’re taking steps today to mitigate the current increasing rate of spread," Murphy added.
"The last thing I want to do is shut our economy back down. Thankfully, we’re not at that point."
New record: US surpasses 10 million COVID-19 cases
The United States hit another grim milestone Monday afternoon, when it surpassed 10 million COVID-19 infections, according to Johns Hopkins University.
With 10,018,278 COVID-19 cases, the U.S. has reported more infections than any other nation. India, which has the second highest number of infections, reported 8,553,657 COVID-19 cases as of Monday.
So far, 237,742 Americans have died of COVID-19.
2nd COVID wave looms in NYC, mayor says
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to wear masks and keep six feet apart as he warned of a looming second wave of COVID-19 during a Monday press conference. The city's positivity rate has moved in the wrong direction over the past few days, according to de Blasio.
"We have to act immediately to turn this around," he added.
While cases, testing positivity rates and deaths are all rising, they remain far below what New York City experienced in the spring, which de Blasio described as "horrendous." For now, hospitalizations are decreasing. "We did it before," de Blasio said of using masks and social distancing to drive down transmission rates. "We need to do it again right now."
US poised to surpass record-breaking 10 million COVID cases today
As a new administration prepares to take the helm in Washington, D.C., the United States is expected to surpass a staggering 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases. The expected milestone follows five consecutive days in which COVID-19 cases in the U.S. topped 100,000.
Every state in the country, except for Hawaii, is reporting an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, according to an ABC News analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Japan and China, by comparison, have reported 109,000 cases and 91,600 cases respectively as of Nov. 9, according to Johns Hopkins University.
ABC News' Soorin Kim, Brian Hartman, Benjamin Bell and Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.
Biden and Harris unveil transition COVID-19 advisory board
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris unveiled their transition COVID-19 advisory board on Monday morning, naming the people in charge of making the rubber of the duo’s coronavirus policy hit the road as they prepare to take office in just 72 days.
"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 statement announcing the board. "The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections; ensuring vaccines are safe, effective, and distributed efficiently, equitably, and free; and protecting at-risk populations."
In his first address to the nation as president-elect on Saturday night, Biden said one of his first actions would be putting the panel in place -- a signal of his primary focus on getting the coronavirus pandemic in check when he takes office in January.
As previously reported, the team will be led by three co-chairs: former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. David Kessler, along with Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a professor of medicine at Yale University.
In total, 13 co-chairs and members comprise the board, including former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Dr. Rick Bright, who made headlines earlier this year when he resigned from his role at the National Institute of Health and filed a whistleblower complaint over "an abuse of authority or gross mismanagement" at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the COVID-19 response.
Biden and Harris will receive a briefing from the board on Monday morning, according to their transition team -- the first public event for the pair since being projected as the winners of the 2020 election.
ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.