Coronavirus updates: US will soon have 'half a million' deaths, incoming CDC chief says
The U.S. is forecast to have almost 500,000 COVID-19 deaths by mid-February.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 94.2 million people worldwide and killed over 2 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
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Daily COVID-19 deaths top 4,000 for 2nd time in US
There were 4,056 deaths due to COVID-19 reported on Tuesday in the U.S., according to The COVID Tracking Project.
That marks the second time new deaths surpassed 4,000, based on the tracker's tally, following the record 4,081 reported less than a week ago on Jan. 7.
The seven-day average number of deaths reported Tuesday also set a new record, the tracker said.
There were 213,885 new cases and 131,326 people are currently hospitalized due to the virus in the U.S.
COVID-19 death rate in UK up by 51% week-over-week: WHO
Deaths from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom have jumped, as the country battles a new, more contagious variant of the novel coronavirus.
The U.K. reported 6,298 new COVID-19 deaths in the week ending Jan. 10, up from 4,165 the previous week, according to the World Health Organization's latest epidemiological report. There were 9.3 new deaths per 100,000 residents -- a 51% increase over the previous week, according to the WHO.
Elsewhere, the African region reported the highest percentage increases over any other region in cases and deaths during that time frame. There were over 174,000 new cases and over 4,300 new deaths, according to the report.
COVID-19 cases are on the decline in India, the second-most populous nation in the world. There were just over 126,000 new cases reported -- a 7% decrease in infections per 100,000 residents over the previous week, according to the report.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
CDC expands testing rules for people flying to US
Beginning Jan. 26, those flying to the U.S. from foreign countries must follow new rules that were announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.
Passengers must take a COVID-19 test “within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19,” the CDC said.
“Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board,” the CDC said. “If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.”
The CDC also asks travelers “to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel.”
ABC News’ Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
Dems will implement new mask penalties on House floor
Democrats are moving forward Tuesday night with plans to implement a mask requirement on the House floor.
As part of their first vote series, they will adopt language implementing a fine system for noncompliance with Speaker Nancy Pelosi's mask requirement, according to a senior House Democratic aide.
Members will be fined $500 for their first offense and $2,500 for their second offense. Fines will be deducted from members' pay.
Separately, a House administrative body will review whether to add a new fine system for non-compliance in the House office buildings on the south side of the U.S. Capitol complex.
Three House Democrats have tested positive for COVID-19 since the Capitol siege.
ABC News’ Ben Siegel contributed to this report.
Biden picks former FDA chief to help lead Operation Warp Speed
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Dr. David Kessler, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to help lead the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine initiative.
Kessler, a pediatrician and lawyer who headed the FDA from 1999 to 1997 under the Bush and Clinton administrations, will replace Dr. Moncef Slaoui, who is the current chief science officer to Operation Warp Speed.
Biden also announced several other appointees who will join his incoming administration's COVID-19 response team.
"We are in a race against time, and we need a comprehensive strategy to quickly contain this virus," Biden said in a statement Thursday. "The individuals announced today will bolster the White House’s COVID-19 Response team and play important roles in carrying out our rescue plan and vaccination program. At a time when American families are facing numerous challenges I know these public servants will do all that is needed to build our nation back better."