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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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.
NYC schools test thousands of students and staff, find few infections
Despite opening in person for classes amid rising COVID-19 cases, few infections have been tied to New York City public schools, according to early data from the city's department of education.
Of the 16,298 tests the department has received results for, only 28, or 0.17%, are positive. Of those infections, 20 are among staff members and eight among students, a department spokesperson told ABC News on Monday.
Independent watchdog to investigate political pressure on CDC, FDA
The Government Accountability Office, an independent arm of Congress, has agreed to investigate allegations that the Trump administration applied political pressure to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, undermining the agencies' credibility and independence.
Senate Democrats first appealed to the watchdog agency in a letter on Oct. 8.
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.