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COVID-19 live updates: 'Extremely unlikely' virus came from Chinese lab, WHO says

WHO experts said it's more likely the virus jumped to humans from an animal.

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 106 million people worldwide and killed over 2.3 million, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.


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US congressman dies after contracting COVID-19

U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, died Sunday after contracting COVID-19 last month, his office confirmed in a statement Monday.

Wright, who had lung cancer, was diagnosed with the disease on Jan. 21 and admitted to Baylor Hospital in Dallas. He was 67.

"Over the past few years, Congressman Wright had kept a rigorous work schedule on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and at home in Texas’ Congressional District 6 while being treated for cancer," his office said.

Wright is the second American lawmaker to die after testing positive for COVID-19. Luke Letlow, Louisiana's incoming Republican congressman, died at age 41 in late December, just days before he was due to be sworn in.

ABC News' Mariam Khan contributed to this report.


Delta to block out middle seats through April

Delta Air Lines announced Monday that it will continue blocking out middle seats and limiting capacity on flights because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The extra space will last through April 30, 2021.

"We'll continue to reassess seat blocking in relation to case transmission and vaccination rates," Bill Lentsch, chief customer experience officer of Delta Air Lines, said in a statement.

Delta, which has blocked out seats and limited capacity on flights since last April, is currently the only U.S. airline still blocking out middle seats because of the virus.

ABC News' Gio Benitez contributed to this report.


Some UNC-Chapel Hill classes to go virtual due to crowds after basketball game

Some classes at the University of North Carolina have the option to go virtual for nearly two weeks after school officials received hundreds of complaints following Saturday night's crowd that rushed Franklin Street.

"As you are no doubt aware, last night hundreds of Carolina fans -- many, presumably students -- flooded Franklin Street to celebrate our men’s basketball victory over Duke," UNC-Chapel Hill officials said in a statement Sunday.

UNC-Chapel Hill students have agreed to adhere to COVID-19 rules like state gathering restrictions, mask-wearing and physical distancing, according to university officials.

"Those standards do not include exceptions for winning basketball games," the officials said.

The timing of the crowd fell the weekend before students returned for in-person learning for spring semester. While in-person instruction will continue Monday, faculty are allowed to teach virtually and return to in-person learning on Feb. 17, according to the university. Students who attend in-person classes are required to be tested twice a week.

ABC News' Will Gretzky contributed to this report.


South Africa halts rollout of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine due to new variant

The South African government halted its rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by England's University of Oxford and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, following trial results that found the shot provided "minimal protection" against mild-to-moderate sickness from a new, more contagious variant of the novel coronavirus spreading in South Africa.

The trial did not assess whether the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine protects against severe illness and death caused by the new variant, known as B1351.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company believes its vaccine will protect against severe disease caused by B1351.

"This was a small study with predominantly young (average 31 years) healthy adults, where severe disease is not predominant. No severe disease or hospitalization was observed in the vaccine or control participants," the spokesperson said in a statement Monday. "We are working closely with the South African Ministry of Health on how best to support the evaluation of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca against severe disease of the B.1.351 variant, and how to bring this vaccine to the South African people."

ABC News' Zoe Magee contributed to this report.


Grocery, meatpacking workers call for hazard pay, vaccine priority

Grocery store and meatpacking workers said they still feel just as vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 now as they did at any point during the pandemic. In an organized call, the United Food Commercial Workers union called for hazard pay and that food service workers be prioritized for the vaccine.

At least 137 grocery workers and 132 meatpacking workers have died from COVID-19, according to the call.

Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that front-line essential workers, like grocery store employees, should be prioritized for the vaccine. But not every state has done so and union officials said their workers still can't get the vaccine even when it's being offered at the pharmacy in the store where they work every day.

"What is inexplicable, given the threats and the risks that these essential workers face and the fact that a new report, it shows only 13 states currently prioritize access for food workers, which puts our food supply at risk,” said UFCW President Marc Perrone.

ABC News’ Stephanie Ebbs contributed to this report.