Coronavirus updates: US reports nearly 300,000 new cases in all-time high
A staggering 299,087 new cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 84.6 million people worldwide and killed over 1.8 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Latest headlines:
Africa cases jump 20% in last week: WHO
Africa has seen a 20% increase in new coronavirus cases and a 37% jump in deaths over the last week, with South Africa leading the continent's spike, according to the World Health Organization.
There were 114,000 new cases and 2,558 COVID-19-related fatalities reported in the region, according to WHO's weekly report.
South Africa had the most new cases and deaths in the region during that period according to the report.
The country recorded 82,434 new cases and 1,982 new deaths, WHO said.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
CDC expects more COVID variant cases
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control sent out a statement following the first discovery of the UK variant of the coronavirus in Colorado.
"We expect that there will be additional cases that are likely to be detected in the coming days," the agency said in its statement.
"Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic."
The CDC added that the UK variant doesn't appear to cause more severe disease or mortality, but warned it does appear to have a higher transmission rate.
"Based on studies with other viruses containing similar mutations, CDC believes there will be little or no impact on immunity from natural infection or vaccination," the agency said.
-ABC News' Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
UK variant detected in US for 1st time
A man in his 20s in Colorado is confirmed to have the COVID-19 variant that was detected in the United Kingdom, Colorado officials said.
This is believed to be the first known case of the variant in the U.S.
The man, who’s had no travel history, is in isolation, officials said.
“Public health officials are doing a thorough investigation,” Colorado officials said. “The individual has no close contacts identified so far, but public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough contact tracing interviews.”
The variants are all the same virus, no matter their small genetic differences. SARS-COV-2 is a respiratory virus, meaning it is transmitted through droplets, so masks and social distancing still work to slow transmission, no matter the variant.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reiterated that health officials will monitor the case closely.
"We are working to prevent the spread and contain the virus at all levels," he said in a statement.
Stay-at-home order extended in hard-hit Southern California
Stay-at-home orders are extended in California’s hard-hit Southern California and the state's San Joaquin region, where ICU capacities remain at 0%.
Hospitalizations in the Golden State have increased 36.5% over the last two weeks; now 20,390 coronavirus patients are in hospitals.
ICU hospitalizations have increased 35.1% over last two weeks and now stand at 4,308 patients.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of California Health and Human Services, on Tuesday outlined plans for hospitals’ “crisis care” mode, which is when care for patients would have to be rationed. California is not there yet, he said, adding that it’s important to prepare.
"We certainly know SoCal hospitals are in crisis,” Ghaly said.
“Some hospitals in SoCal have put in place some practices that would be part of crisis care, whether it’s decisions about how ambulances are received or how stretched staff become,” Ghaly said. “But we have not heard of a hospital needing to make a decision between two patients who need ventilators and needed to make a decision between them or any care decisions like that.”
ICU capacity in California’s three other regions stand at: 10.4% in the Bay Area, 19.1% in Greater Sacramento and 27.9% in Northern California. All regions but Northern California are under stay-at-home orders.
ABC News’ Alyssa Pone, Alex Stone and Michelle Mendez contributed to this report.
UNC Health acquires 725 COVID-19 vaccines meant for Orange County health department
UNC Health of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, confirmed it acquired 725 COVID vaccines origanally intended for the Orange County health department on Thursday night, WTVD reported.
In an emailed statement, the Orange County health department said, "UNC Health was notified that Orange County had a number of vaccine vials available for immediate use.
"UNC Health worked closely with Orange County to ensure that all of the vaccines would be used with zero waste and that all of these shots would go to either Phase 1-A personnel or staff who work with COVID-19 patients in some capacity.
"This cooperation was a success, and all of the available stock was used appropriately."
-ABC News' Joshua Hoyos