Coronavirus updates: CDC now 'strongly recommends' masks on airplanes, public transportation
The goal is to "help safely reopen America’s economy," the CDC said.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 1.1 million people worldwide.
Over 40 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 8.1 million diagnosed cases and at least 219,674 deaths.
California has the most cases of any U.S. state, with more than 875,000 people diagnosed, according to Johns Hopkins data. California is followed by Texas and Florida, with over 854,000 cases and over 755,000 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.
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Trump administration throws out ventilators sent from Russia
The Trump administration has thrown out 45 ventilators that Russia sent the U.S. last spring, the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed in a statement Monday.
The ventilators were delivered as part of a medical aid flight sent last spring by Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Donald Trump.
"He offered a lot of medical, high quality stuff that I accepted and that may save a lot of lives. I'll take it every day," Trump said at the time of the flight, dismissing questions about whether it was Russian propaganda.
ABC was first to report last spring that the U.S. was billed some $660K for the Russian aid supplies, which included thousands of pieces of equipment not typically used in hospitals, like chemical warfare-style gas masks and household cleaning gloves.
When asked whether the U.S. would get its money back, a FEMA spokeswoman suggested that money never changed hands because the supplies are now regarded as a "donation."
"Therefore, no payment was required by the U.S. for the donated goods," she said.
New York and New Jersey had received the ventilators but quickly returned them to the federal stockpile without ever having used them, following reports that five coronavirus patients in St. Petersburg were killed in fires linked to overloaded ventilators.
"The donated ventilators in question were disposed of following strict hazardous waste disposal regulatory guidelines," the FEMA spokeswoman said.
ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
Meadows indicates vaccine distribution discussions are 'premature'
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows signaled to reporters that it is premature at this point to answer specific questions from state governors about vaccine distribution since there is no vaccine in the final stages.
Over the weekend, the National Governors Association sent a letter to President Donald Trump with several questions about a future vaccine rollout, including questions about funding, supply chain and communication.
"At the appropriate time we’ll be working with them," Meadows said of the governors. "But until we have a vaccine that’s actually in final stages of approval, that distribution and discussions of that would be premature."
Ireland issues strict new lockdown measures
In an effort to stem rising coronavirus cases, Ireland will enter a six-week national lockdown starting Wednesday, according to the Irish government.
Ireland's lockdown, which mandates that nonessential employees work from home, residents stay within a 5-kilometer radius of their homes, and nonessential businesses close, is among the strictest in Europe.
Unlike Ireland's strict lockdown in the spring, however, schools will remain open for now.
California board to independently review vaccine before distribution
California will only distribute COVID-19 vaccines after they've been independently approved by a state board, Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a Monday news conference.
The board will be made up of 11 experts from California universities and is meant to dispel vaccine hesitancy following the intense politicization already surrounding the potential vaccine.
Newsom also urged patience. "Don't expect that you'll go down to a local pharmacy anytime in this calendar year and get a vaccination," he said.
Instead, most Californians can expect to be vaccinated in 2021, according to the governor.