Coronavirus updates: Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, likely NFL top pick, tests positive
The quarterback will be isolated and not play this weekend.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.
Over 44.9 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.
The United States is the worst-affected nation, with more than 8.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 228,636 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.
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Vaccine effectiveness will be known by December, Fauci says
Researchers should know by December whether the vaccines in development are safe and effective, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“I can predict, I believe with some degree of certainty, that by the end of November to the beginning of December, we will know — based on the size of the trial and rate of infections that are ongoing in this country — if we will have a safe and effective vaccine,” Fauci said Wednesday in a virtual keynote address at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s COVID-19 research symposium, according to
Fauci added that he's "cautiously optimistic that we will have a safe and effective vaccine even though you can never make absolute predictions."
Tents set up at every hospital in El Paso
Hospitals in El Paso, Texas, are setting up tents to deal with the increase in COVID-19 patients as the U.S. sees a surge of new cases across the country.
All hospitals in the city, according to ABC News affiliate KVIA, have now started to build tents as of Wednesday night.
"Our hospitals continue to implement our surge plans to expand capacity to help manage the influx of Covid-19 patients to meet the rapidly expanding needs of El Paso," a Hospitals of Providence spokesperson told the station. "Medical tents will help decompress the Emergency Departments."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also announced on Wednesday that the El Paso Convention Center is being converted into a health care facility to expand hospital capacity in the area. "The State of Texas is also providing local hospitals with auxiliary medical units, medical staffing, and medical equipment," the Texas Division of Emergency Management said.
There were 845 new cases of COVID-29, which brings the city to at least 13,653 active cases as of Wednesday, according to local officials. There were three new deaths, which brings the death toll in El Paso to 583.
The 7-day rate of positivity in El Paso is 15.57%. There are 908 people currently hospitalized with coronavirus in the city, with 223 patients in ICUs and 111 on ventilators. There are 285 ICU beds in total in El Paso.
With the spike in cases in El Paso, city officials asked residents this week to largely stay at home. "For the next two weeks, we are asking you to please stay home unless for essential activities to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prevent strain on our hospitals."
In Texas, there have been more than 911,000 diagnosed cases since the pandemic began, with at least 18,162 deaths.
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, likely No. 1 NFL pick, tests positive
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the likely No. 1 pick in next year's NFL Draft, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Lawrence's positive test was confirmed by his coach late Thursday.
"Trevor has authorized us this evening to announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in isolation," Dabo Swinney said in a statement. "He is doing well with mild symptoms but will not be available for this week’s game against Boston College."
The Tigers are currently the No. 1 team in the nation and are 6-0 on the season. They are a huge favorite over Boston College this weekend.
Lawrence released a statement saying, in part, "I have tested positive for COVID-19, and my symptoms have been relatively mild while I'm following the protocol from Clemson and the ACC. The only thing that hurts is missing an opportunity to be with my teammates this weekend and play the game I love."
The Clemson star was one of the top lobbyists among college players to hold a college football season. He argued the athletes would be less protected if they did not compete and instead stayed at home for remote learning.
"People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don’t play," he wrote in a tweet on Aug. 9.
Lawrence has been the projected No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft ever since he exploded on the scene as a freshman in leading the Tigers to a national championship in 2018. He was also the offensive MVP of that game.
Swinney has admitted it's unlikely the junior will return for a fourth season. NFL teams are already salivating over the prospect of the 6-foot-6 signal caller joining their rosters.