COVID-19 updates: Austria orders nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated residents
The lockdown for unvaccinated residents began at midnight on Monday.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 763,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
Just 68.8% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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LA's vaccine mandate goes into effect
Los Angeles' new vaccine mandate goes into effect Monday, requiring proof of vaccination to enter most public indoor spaces, including: any establishments where food or beverages are served; gyms and fitness venues; entertainment and recreation venues; personal care establishments; and buildings owned or operated by the city.
The mandate also requires proof of vaccination for large outdoor events with 5,000 or more attendees.
Enforcement will begin on Nov. 29.
-ABC News' Catherine Thorbecke
Regeneron monoclonal antibody lowers COVID risk by nearly 82%, company says
Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment can lower the risk of contracting COVID-19 by nearly 82% for up to eight months, the company said.
Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment, given as an intravenous infusion or a subcutaneous injection, is already FDA-authorized as a way to prevent COVID-19 among people who have recently been exposed and are considered "high risk" for more serious illness. This new data shows that when given as preventative measure, it dramatically reduces the risk of infection for up to eight months.
Regeneron and the FDA say that vaccination is the best way to prevent infection and serious illness. However, Regeneron's antibody treatment can be a good option for people who are immune compromised or haven't mounted an adequate immune response through the vaccine.
-ABC News' Sony Salzman, Sasha Pezenik
US reopens borders to vaccinated travelers
The U.S. reopened borders to vaccinated travelers on Monday after 20 months of being closed to many countries, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, India, South Africa and most of Europe.
In January, as the vaccine was distributed on both sides of the Atlantic, the ban was kept in place, with the Biden administration stating concerns about the delta variant.
On Oct. 20, the Biden administration announced it was lifting the ban on vaccinated travelers.
The ban, which only applies to vaccinated travelers, still excludes many countries where the vaccine is not yet easily available or recognized by the U.S.
-ABC News' Zoe Chevalier
Global COVID-19 cases top 250 million in under 2 years
The worldwide number of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 surpassed 250 million on Monday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
The United States, India and Brazil account for about a third of the recorded cases, Johns Hopkins data shows.
The grim milestone came as some countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia, Ukraine and Greece, grapple with record levels of newly reported cases.
The pandemic began less than two years ago after the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
White House confident pace of shots for kids will increase in coming days
White House COVID coordinator Jeff Zients said Wednesday that the pace of vaccines for kids is expected "to continue to accelerate across the coming days and weeks."
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky made the case that children get vaccinated against far less deadly vaccines.
"In the years prior to the recommendation for Hepatitis A, meningococcus and varicella vaccination, the average annual reported deaths from these infections were three, eight and 16 respectively," she said. "All of those numbers are far lower than 66 -- the number of deaths we have seen from COVID-19 in children 5-to-11 over the past year."
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett