Coronavirus updates: Barron Trump also tested positive for COVID, Melania says
Melania Trump said she and her son have now tested negative.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1 million people worldwide.
Over 38.4 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 criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has varied from country-to-country. Still, 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.
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 country, with more than 7.9 million diagnosed cases and at least 216,639 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 865,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 830,000 cases and over 741,000 cases, respectively.
More than 190 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:
BYU-Idaho students may be intentionally contracting COVID
Officials at BYU-Idaho said they are "deeply troubled" by reports that students on campus are intentionally trying to contract COVID-19 in order to recover and then sell their plasma, containing virus antibodies.
"The university condemns this behavior and is actively seeking evidence of any such conduct among our student body," the school said in a statement. "Students who are determined to have intentionally exposed themselves or others to the virus will be immediately suspended from the university and may be permanently dismissed."
However, according to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education, there have been no substantiated examples of students intentionally contracting the virus. The concern may stem from a local article on about the rising demand for sales of plasma, the outlet reported.
Still, cases are definitely rising sharply in the state. Idaho's test-positivity rate spiked to 14.7% for week ending Oct. 8 -- twice the national rate of 5.9% during the same time period, according to an internal Health and Human Services memo obtained by ABC News. Idaho has the sixth-highest rate of infection in the country, the latest White House coronavirus task force report, obtained by ABC News and dated Oct. 10, shows.
The school, located in Rexburg, Idaho, is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Alabama coach Nick Saban tests positive: ESPN
Nick Saban, the head coach of the University of Alabama's football team, tested positive for COVID-19, sources told ESPN.
The 68-year-old was informed about his test by training staff and left the football facility immediately, ESPN reported. Alabama is set to play No. 3 Georgia in a huge, nationally televised game this Saturday.
"At this time, I do not have any symptoms relative to COVID-19, and I have taken another PCR test to confirm my diagnosis," the coach said in a statement. "I informed our team of my positive test at 2 p.m. today on a Zoom call and let them know offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will oversee preparations at the complex while I work from home."
Saban, the highest paid college football coach in the country at over $9 million a year, is the latest college football coach to contract the disease.
University of Kansas coach Les Miles at Kansas, Florida State University coach Mike Norvell and University of Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin have all tested positive for the virus this season.
Yesterday, the University of Florida announced it was pausing team activities citing a rise in coronavirus cases. Florida's game against LSU this weekend was subsequently postponed on Wednesday -- just days after Florida coach Dan Mullen said he wanted to pack his team's stadium with 90,000 fans.
Barron Trump tested positive for COVID-19, first lady announces
Barron Trump, the youngest of President Donald Trump's five children, has contracted COVID-19, according to an article first lady Melania Trump wrote in an article published on the White House website where she described her experience in the battle against the virus.
Barron has "exhibited no symptoms" and has since tested negative, Melania Trump wrote. It is unclear when he contracted the virus.
The first lady says her own illness came "with minimal symptoms" but adds that they hit "all at once."
"It seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after," she wrote. "I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time."
Melania Trump has also since tested negative, she wrote. She did not reveal the details of her treatment, but thanked her caretakers and the Americans who wished her well while she was ill.
"Recovering from an illness gives you a lot of time to reflect. When my husband was taken to Walter Reed as a precaution, I spent much of my time reflecting on my family," she said. "For me personally, the most impactful part of my recovery was the opportunity to reflect on many things -- family, friendships, my work, and staying true to who you are."
"Barron's fine," the president told reporters as he departed the White House, making his way to Iowa for another campaign rally tonight
ABC News' Jordyn Phelps contributed to this report.
Wisconsin sees an increase of more than 3,000 cases in one day
The number of Wisconsin COVID-19 hospitalizations is at an all-time high, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.
The state saw an increase of 3,107 cases since yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 153,578.
Fifty-seven of 72 counties in Wisconsin are meeting the threshold of very high disease activity levels, Van Dijk said, and every region in the state has one or more hospitals reporting staff shortages.
The death toll in Wisconsin currently stands at 1,536.
ABC News’ Rachel Katz contributed to this report.
France to impose 'state of health emergency' as infections rise
France presented a decree on Wednesday announcing a nationwide "state of health emergency" in an effort to contain rising COVID-19 infections.
The new decree will enable the government to impose measures to restrict certain civil liberties. It goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. local time on Saturday.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the difference between this declaration and the state of the country in March and April is they "have not lost control." However, infections are rising, and the pressure on hospitals is increasing, he said.
A curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. will go into effect Saturday and will be in effect for at least four weeks, Macron said. Home gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people, but schools will not close and travel between regions will not be restricted.
ABC News’ Ibtissem Guenfoud and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report