The last week marks the deadliest week for the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic, with 15,578 deaths -- roughly equivalent to 92 deaths reported every hour.

The U.S. is now averaging more than 200,000 new cases each day -- three times higher than the country's summer peak in July, and more than six times higher than the country's spring peak in April.

There has not been a single day with less than 100,000 daily cases for the last five straight weeks, according to an ABC News analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project.

In the last week alone, the U.S. has reported 1.4 million new COVID-19 cases, more than any other week on record, and equivalent to 1 in every 231 Americans testing positive.

With numerous days now over the 200,000 mark, the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases has increased by 87% in the last month.

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and is isolating at home.

"I have no symptoms and am feeling well," Wolf said in a statement. “I am continuing to serve the commonwealth and performing all of my duties remotely."

Wolf's wife has been tested and is awaiting results.

A record 590 new fatalities were reported in Germany on Wednesday, beating the record previously set Tuesday of 568 new deaths, the Robert Koch-Institute reported.

Germany has now lost 19,932 lives to COVID-19.

"A reversal of this trend so far is not in sight," German Deputy Government spokesperson Martina Fietz said, adding that in some regions, hospitals are reaching their limits.

"With more than 4,200 people in intensive care, the number is considerably higher than in the spring," Fietz said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke in parliament Wednesday, pleading with regional leaders to enforce tighter regulations to stop the spread.

Over 1.2 million people in Germany have been diagnosed.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

Canada has authorized the Pfizer vaccine, becoming the third country to do so after the United Kingdom and Bahrain.

Canada's health department said, "after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meets the Department's stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada."

A rollout date was not announced. Initial supplies will be limited with more doses available in the spring, officials said.

Health Canada is also reviewing another three vaccines.

ABC News' Kirit Radia and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has called on final-year students who attended end-of-year parties to immediately self-quarantine for 10 days to prevent spreading the novel coronavirus.

Mkhize made the plea to students and parents on Sunday, after numerous people who recently attended "Rage" parties in Ballito and Jeffrey's Bay tested positive for COVID-19. The events are hosted every year in South Africa as thousands of students celebrate the end of matriculation.

"We confirm that we have now identified a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases arising from these super-spreader events," Mkhize said in a statement. "This therefore means that if you attended any of these Rage events, you are now regarded as a contact."

In addition to quarantining, Mkhize also urged attendees to get tested as soon as possible.

South Africa has the highest tally of COVID-19 infections in all of Africa, with more than 814,000 confirmed cases including over 22,000 deaths.