Here are the latest updates, listed in eastern time, and the most important things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic.

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What is the best soap for protecting yourself from COVID-19? According to beauty blogger and chemistry PhD Dr. Michelle Wong, all soaps are effective against COVID-19 because they work similarly. “Coronavirus has a fatty outer layer and soap and water can actually break up this layer which inactivates the virus,” Wong told the BBC. “Secondly, soaps and detergents will wash away any remaining virus on your hands. It’ll flush it down the drain.” While all soaps will be effective in washing away the coronavirus, now that people are most likely washing their hands more frequently Wong recommended using a gentle soap to prevent dry and cracked hands. “If you have cracked and irritated hands, this can allow these germs to get in,” she explained. In addition, someone with sensitive skin should use soap with fewer ingredients to avoid irritation. Looking for moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin can also prevent dry skin. For children who do not like washing their hands, Wong suggested a “fun soap” to encourage frequent washing. Watch the video below for more.

Pfizer may file an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine that is being developed with German partner BioNTech as early as late November. The regulatory filing will come as soon as enough data backs the safety of the vaccine, which could possibly happen during the third week of November, according to CNBC. The authorization would allow for a coronavirus vaccine this year, which would be a key step in beginning to curb a pandemic that has killed more than 1 million worldwide. At least two months of safety data on half of the trial participants is needed before an emergency authorization can be granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safety data continues to be compiled and the company said it expects to have enough of it by the third week of November. Pfizer said it will share the data with the public as soon as it's practical.

Many states in the U.S. Midwest are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases which has resulted in hospitalizations reaching record levels. Michigan and eight other states reported a record one-day increase in new infections on Thursday, according to Reuters. Before Thursday, Michigan had not set a new daily record since April 3. In the month of October, half of the 50 US states have reported a new record high daily number of cases. Wisconsin reported nearly 4,000 new cases on Thursday with some regions seeing 90% of intensive care unit beds in use. A field hospital has been built in the Milwaukee area to assist with patients if medical facilities become full. North Dakota and South Dakota have reported more new Coronavirus cases per capita than all but one country in the world since the start of October. Iowa saw a record high in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 this week.

A front-runner in China's coronavirus vaccine has shown promising results in human tests and has successfully triggered immune responses in a combined early and mid-stage test. Dubbed BBIBP-CorV, the vaccine is being developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, which is a subsidiary of China National Biotech Group, according to Reuters. The vaccine was given an emergency inoculation program in China for essential workers and other limited groups of people facing high infection risks. Whether the shot actually safely protects people from COVID-19 will only become more clear when the Phase III trials are complete. BBIP-CorV is one of at least 10 vaccines for the coronavirus to enter a Phase III trial. No severe side effects have been reported, but common mild or moderate adverse reactions have been seen such as fever and pain in injection sites.

The Indianapolis Colts have closed their practice facility following word of several positive COVID-19 test results within the organization, ESPN reported. It is not known yet how many people tested positive or if any of them were players. The organization will work remotely Friday as it works to confirm the test results, ESPN said. The Colts are slated to host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT. However, ESPN reporter Dianna Russini tweeted that the game is still on for Sunday, based on communications she had with league officials.

Elsewhere around the league, the Atlanta Falcons closed their facility earlier this week after an assistant coach tested positive. NFL Network Reporter Tom Pelissero reported that the team's tests from Thursday came back negative Friday morning, which allowed the organization to reopen its practice facility.The Falcons' game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis is still expected to take place.

Update: 11:52 a.m. The Colts released a statement on Twitter saying that the samples came back negative for COVID-19 following a second round of testing. The organization will reopen its facility later today.

There has been much optimism surrounding Gilead Science’s drug remdesivir, which was previously used to treat Ebola, for its potential as a COVID-19 therapy, but a new report from the World Health Organization released on Thursday concluded that the drug has “little or no effect” in helping patients afflicted with COVID-19 survive the illness. According to the BBC, the report also found hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon -- other drugs that have been used to treat the coronavirus -- to be ineffective at preventing mortality. Remdesivir was part of the treatment regimen given to President Donald Trump after he tested positive for COVID-19, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie revealed that he also received the treatment. Gilead Sciences dismissed the report’s finding, saying in a statement, “The emerging (WHO) data appears inconsistent, with more robust evidence from multiple randomized, controlled studies published in peer-reviewed journals validating the clinical benefit of remdesivir." The drug maker said its scientists were concerned that the WHO data and analysis has not “undergone the rigorous review required to allow for constructive scientific discussion,” the BBC reported. Meanwhile, the WHO is shifting its focus to other types of treatments that have shown promise. “We're looking at monoclonal antibodies, we're looking at immunomodulators and some of the newer anti-viral drugs that have been developed in the last few months,” WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said, according to the BBC. The complete WHO report can be read here.

A scientist handles vials of Remdesivir, a drug developed to treat Ebola, that is showing promise for patients suffering from COVID-19. (Gilead Sciences)

(Gilead Sciences)

Following a weeklong stay in the hospital for COVID-19 treatment, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is speaking publicly for the first time. Christie released a statement on Thursday that said he was wrong not to wear a mask when he visited the White House for the announcement of the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “I believed that when I entered the White House grounds, that I had entered a safe zone, due to the testing that and I and many others underwent every day,” Christie said, according to The Associated Press. “I was wrong.”

Christie, who was in the intensive care unit for the entirety of his hospital stay, also said, “Every public official, regardless of party or position, should advocate for every American to wear a mask in public, appropriately socially distance and to wash your hands frequently every day,” the AP reported. Christie appeared on ABC's Good Morning America Friday morning to discuss his experience with the virus further. Watch a portion of the interview below.

France is ready to deploy 12,000 police officers to enforce curfews across major cities starting on Saturday, according to Reuters.The announcement made by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin comes as the country has surpassed 800,000 coronavirus infections and is currently undergoing a second wave of the virus. On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macon ordered curfews in nine cities across the nation, including Paris.

The world recorded over 406,660 cumulative new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, marking the first time the daily number has surpassed 400,000 new cases. About a month ago, that total was more steadily around the 300,000 mark. Countries throughout western Europe and, South America and North America have continued to struggle with resurgences in new cases, as another six countries could jump the 1 million case mark within the next 10 days if their current daily paces continue.

Globally, the daily death toll is lingering around 6,000 fatalities per day, which isn't yet approaching the record highs set in July, August and September, including one day that topped 10,000 deaths.

Elsewhere around the world, here are the latest updated global totals from Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 38,988,886

• Fatalities: 1,098,982

• Recoveries: 26,918,980

While the coronavirus pandemic seems to have disrupted life in even the most remote corners of the Earth, two counties and one borough in the United States have somehow managed to remain free of the virus up until Thursday. Esmeralda County, Nevada, and Loving County, Texas, have yet to report a single case of COVID-19 yet, and Skagway, a borough in Alaska, reported its first case on Thursday afternoon. Skagway borough clerk Emily Deach told residents to shelter in place while contact tracing occurs. According to USA Today, all three locations are remote and have less than 1,100 residents. Dr. Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the virus was able to spread so vastly throughout the country due to inadequate policies regarding prevention. “The virus didn’t get to all those counties by hopping on a bus. This is being transmitted by humans,’’ Woolf said. “The policies we’ve relaxed have allowed people to transmit the virus because they’re not wearing masks, they’re not social distancing, they’re gathering in large groups, they’re going to football games, they’re attending political rallies and creating superspreader events that carry the virus on to a new destination.’’

The government in Poland issued new coronavirus restrictions on Thursday that will result in the closure of gyms, pools and waterparks. Weddings and parties are allowed to continue in yellow zones of the country with 20 guests or less, but dancing is not allowed. Weddings are not allowed in red zones. The new restrictions come as a result of a 24% rise in coronavirus cases recorded on Thursday and is part of an effort from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to avoid a total lockdown in the country, Reuters reported. “The main recommendation ... is stay home and if you can work from home, then do so,” he said. Mateusz has received criticism from health experts that claim he has not done enough to prevent a second outbreak of the virus. “The (healthcare) system was never operational, even before the pandemic. Without support ... it is like an intensive care patient,” Andrzej Matyja, head of the Polish Supreme Medical Chamber, said.

Some people who had COVID-19 are finding that they’re experiencing fluctuating and multi system symptoms after the 2 week incubation time period, which has been increasingly referred to as “Long COVID” or “Long Haul COVID,” according to a report from the National Institute for Health Research. It is unclear if everyone with Long COVID is experiencing the same syndromes as research on the disease is still new, but they’ve been noted to affect the respiratory system, the heart and cardiovascular system, the brain, the kidneys and the gut.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that, for some people, Covid19 infection is not a discrete episode but one that marks the start of ongoing and often debilitating symptoms,” the report said. It continues to note that there is no formal diagnostic term for these ongoing effects, nor services to support them. “However, the lack of a single diagnostic category in no way diminishes the very real and often severe continuing impact living with Covid19 has on people’s lives,”the report stressed. Researchers and healthcare professionals have been cautious about attributing the reported problems to a single diagnoses, but the report listed four types of syndromes that could possibly cause Long-COVID:

• Post-viral fatigue syndrom

• Permanent organ damage to the lungs and heart

• Post-intensive-care syndrome

• Continuing COVID-19 symptoms

London is expected to initiate a tighter COVID-19 lockdown beginning midnight on Friday, Reuters reported. England's current death toll from the pandemic is more than 43,100, which is the highest in Europe, Reuters reported. The tighter lockdowns are part of an effort from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to slow down the second wave of the coronavirus. U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancok said London would be moved from the "medium" alert level to the "high" level. Under the high level, people can't meet other families for social engagements that are indoors in any setting, including homes and restaurants. Watch the video below for more.

A new study conducted by the Department of Defense in partnership with United Airlines indicates that the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is “virtually non-existent.” According to the study, there is only a 0.0003% chance particles from a passenger can enter another passenger’s breathing space when they are both wearing masks. In the study, researchers ran 300 tests in six months, using a mannequin and an aerosol generator to replicate a passenger who is breathing or coughing. After studying the way the mannequin’s particles moved inside the cabin, they found that “99.99% of those particles left the interior of the aircraft within six minutes,” United Airlines Chief Communication Officer Josh Earnest told ABC News. He added that the results indicate “that being on board an aircraft is the safest indoor public space, because of the unique configuration inside an aircraft that includes aggressive ventilation, lots of airflow.” The news comes on the heels of the International Air Transport Association publishing new research last week in which it described the chances of becoming infected on a flight as "in the same category as being struck by lightning," according to ABC News.

“What is your advice about Thanksgiving?” CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell asked Anthony Fauci in an interview on Wednesday. "Given the fluid and dynamic nature of what's going on right now in the spread and the uptick of infections, I think people should be very careful and prudent about social gatherings, particularly when members of the family might be at a risk because of their age or their underlying condition," the director of the NIAID responded. “You may have to bite the bullet and sacrifice that social gathering, unless you’re pretty certain that the people that you’re dealing with are not infected.” Fauci went to on say Thanksgiving in his home will "look very different this year" as his own children won’t be visiting him on the holiday out of concern that at his age, 79, he is at risk of suffering a severe case of COVID-19. “They themselves, because of their concern for me and my age, have decided they're not going to come home for Thanksgiving — even though all three of them want very much to come home for Thanksgiving," Fauci told O’Donnell, noting that his adult children live in three different states. Watch a clip of the interview below.

A large number of Americans continue to file for unemployment, resulting in 890,000 new claims last week which is much higher than what was expected. Dow Jones surveyed economists who expected the number of jobless claims to be around 830,000. The actual figure of 890,000 is the highest since August and another sign that the labor market continues to struggle in recovery, according to CNBC. The number also represents a gain of 53,000 over the previous week for claims. Continuing jobless claims did continue to fall to just over 10 million. The unemployment rate has fallen to 7.9% but is still more than double pre-pandemic level.

The Atlanta Falcons are conducting practice remotely after a team staff member has tested positive for the coronavirus. The league is currently confirming the positive test and conducting contact tracing, according to NFL Network. It is believed an assistant coach tested positive, but a false positive test is also possible and has occurred within the league on multiple occasions already. An initial report from ESPN about multiple players testing positive has been confirmed as incorrect. The Falcons are working remotely as a precaution and plan to return Friday. No schedule changed are anticipated yet, with the Falcons expected to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Thein Khin, a 100-year-old woman from Myanmar beat COVID-19 without even knowing she was infected, according to Reuters. She was kept in an isolation center last month after she tested positive for the virus but was asymptomatic and said she was more worried about her grandchildren’s health. “I felt nothing. I was eating well, showering myself and walking as normal,” the great-grandmother told Reuters. “If I suffered from this virus, I would be lying and moaning on the bed. But I am strong, walking around. I felt nothing.” The elderly population is considered to be one of the most vulnerable to the virus. In Myanmar, COVID-19 cases have passed 29,000, up from just a few hundred in August. In the video below, she explains why she feels "this disease is nothing" compared to some of the other dangers she's escaped over the course of her life.

On Thursday, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign announced that vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will be suspending in-person events until Monday. The announcement comes after two members associated with the campaign tested positive for COVID-19. According to The Associated Press, campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said that “neither of these individuals [who tested positive for the virus] had any contact with Vice President Biden, with Sen. Harris or any other staff member since testing positive or in the 48-hour period prior to their positive results.” He added that the suspension of events would be “out of an abundance of caution.” Harris addressed the situation on Twitter Thursday morning, saying, "I've had two negative tests this week and an not showing any symptoms."

The start of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere is less than two months away, and the changing of the seasons will not only bring snow, but also uncertainties about the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic. A new study by research giant Riken and Kobe University used a supercomputer to model the dispersion of the virus in the air at two different humidity levels, Reuters reported. When the humidity was lower than 30%, the number of aerosolized particles were more than double than air with a humidity over 60%. This means that the virus could spread easier in the air during the winter months when humidity levels are lower. The study suggests using a humidifier indoors could help to limit infections when proper ventilation is not possible, Reuters said.

Korey King's breath is visible as he walks in Detroit Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

On the same day that the Southeastern Conference postponed this weekend's LSU-Florida football game, significant additional virus-related developments in the conference emerged from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. On Wednesday it was revealed that University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, along with Athletic Director Greg Byrne, both tested positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported. Saban, 68, said he was feeling fine before he got word of the positive test result, ESPN reported. The university is planning on testing everyone within the football program on Thursday. Saban is quarantining in his home and was able to monitor practice via zoom. He told the team that anyone who came into contact with him might be infected, ESPN said. The second-ranked Crimson Tide are still slated to host No. 3 Georgia in a massive showdown Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. As of Thursday morning, the game is still scheduled to be played.

A Sweet 16 party in Long Island, New York, is now being called a “super-spreader event” by officials, with 37 confirmed cases connected to the event. “There is no precise definition of what a super-spreader event is,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. “But in Suffolk County, we have not seen an event like this before at any time throughout this pandemic. For Suffolk County, this was a super-spreader event.” The Sept. 25 celebration, which has caused 270 people to quarantine, had a guest list of 81 people, according to Bellone. Among the positive cases are 28 students at eight different schools, as well as nine adults. The party’s venue, the Miller Palace Inn in Miller Place, was charged with a $10,000 fine for violating the state’s executive order of restricting public gatherings to a maximum of 50 guests. Additionally, the venue was also fined $2,000 for a sanitary code violation, according to ABC News. “This cluster should serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of violating COVID-19 rules and regulations,” Bellone said. “We do not want to see business shutting down and schools shutting down.”

A resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Russia began last month and in less than three weeks, the amount of daily cases recorded has already far surpassed the daily totals from the original spike back in early May. On Wednesday, the country recorded a record 14,041 new cases, the 12th consecutive day with at least 10,000 new cases. Back in May, the highest single-day case increase was 11,656. With 1,346,380 total cases, Russia ranks fourth in the world.

Elsewhere around the world, here are the latest updated global totals from Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 38,574,120

• Fatalities: 1,093,253

• Recoveries: 26,720,847

Healthy young people might not be able to get the coronavirus vaccine until 2022 as public health officials will prioritize the immunization of elderly and vulnerable populations. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan from the World Health Organization made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that prioritization details are still being worked out by the WHO. She also added that a vaccine for the virus is yet to be approved as safe and effective by the WHO. “People tend to think that on the first of January or the first of April, I’m going to get the vaccine, and then things will be back to normal,” Swaminathan said, according to CNBC. “It’s not going to work like that.” Although she stated that a potential vaccine will be ready by 2021, she emphasized that it will be available in “limited quantities.” Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said that even without a vaccine, there are still tools that people can use to prevent infection. “We have tools right now that can prevent amplification events,” she said, adding that wearing a mask, as well as hand washing and avoiding crowded events could slow the spread of the virus. “We can get ahead of the virus and in many countries, they’ve controlled transmission.”

Walmart plans on spreading Black Friday sales across much of the month of November as it aims to reduce crowds at stores during the pandemic. The company will have a “revamped Black Friday savings event,” with sales spanning over the course of three weekends in November that will begin on its website first, before hitting stores a few days later, the large retailer announced. The sales are scheduled for the first, second and fourth weekends next month. So-called “Health Ambassadors” will be there to remind people to put on their masks. “By spreading deals out across multiple days and making our hottest deals available online, we expect the Black Friday experience in our stores will be safer and more manageable for both our customers and our associates,” said Scott McCall, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Walmart US, said in a release.

On Wednesday, Spain became the first country in the European Union to surpass 900,000 infections after adding more than 11,000 confirmed cases. More than 5,000 of the new cases were diagnosed between Tuesday and Wednesday, as the country is currently experiencing a second wave of the coronavirus. According to The Associated Press, Spain is the seventh worst-affected country in terms of COVID-19 cases, as the health ministry has confirmed 908,056 infections since the start of the pandemic. France, which is next in the EU, has reported more than 750,000 cases.

On Wednesday afternoon, Melania Trump revealed her experience with the coronavirus after she tested positive, along with President Donald Trump, nearly two weeks ago. “I was very fortunate as my diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, though they hit me all at once and it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after,” the first lady said in a statement. “I experienced body aches, a cough and headaches, and felt extremely tired most of the time.” She also revealed that her son Barron Trump also tested positive, but was asymptomatic. “Our country has overcome many hardships and much adversity, and it is my hope COVID-19 will be another obstacle we will be able to tell future generations we overcame—and learned from in the process." Read the first lady's complete statement here.

Travel restrictions are being implemented in parts of the U.K. in response to an uptick in new cases of coronavirus. On Wednesday, Wales announced that it will be banning people traveling from hot spots elsewhere in the country, the BBC said. "Evidence from public health professionals suggests coronavirus is moving from east to west across the U.K. and across Wales,” said Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales. "As a general rule, it is concentrating in urban areas and then spreading to more sparsely populated areas as a result of people traveling." Travel will only be permitted for work or education to limit the spread of the virus.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, a group of devotees gathered in the outskirts of Mexico City to pray to Santa Muerte, a Mexican folk saint who personifies death. “With this pandemic, devotees have obviously come more willingly,” Cristel Legaria, Santa Muerte cult leader, told AFP. “In this service, people ask for health and protection.” During the gathering, people worshipped a massive statue of the idol as Legaria led the prayer and asked everyone to join. However, not everyone was on board with the use of religion as a way of getting protection from the virus. “In fact, I haven’t made any request regarding COVID-19 because that concerns doctors, not religion or anything like that,” a man who attended the gathering told AFP. Watch the full video here.

The French government declared a public health state of emergency on Wednesday, allowing officials to enforce stricter measures as the country experiences a second wave of COVID-19. “The COVID-19 epidemic constitutes a public health disaster which, by its character and its severity, puts at risk the health of the population,” the government said in a statement announcing the state of emergency, according to Reuters. “It justifies the declaration of a state of emergency so that measures can be adopted … which are strictly proportionate to the public health risks.” Although the statement did not mention the specific measures that will be enforced, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to address the new plan on Wednesday night.

A prominent college football team is experiencing an outbreak that forced a big matchup slated for this weekend to be postponed. The Florida Gators have reported 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which includes players, coaches and other personnel on the team, according to ESPN. The team is nationally ranked and was scheduled to play the LSU Tigers this weekend in a major clash of SEC powerhouses. On Wednesday afternoon, the SEC announced that the game will be moved to Dec. 12, The Associated Press reported. "Head coach Dan Mullen has been in communication with football players and their parents, and I have had conversations with the Southeastern Conference office, last week's opponent Texas A&M, and this week's opponent LSU,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “These circumstances will be re-evaluated by UF Health and the athletic department's sports medicine staff Wednesday."

Restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an "unprecedented" drop in greenhouse gas emissions during the first half of 2020, according to a report from AFP. The study, produced by an international team of researchers and published in the journal, Nature, said CO2 emissions from transportation, power and aviation dropped significantly. So much so in fact that after looking at data from hourly electricity production and vehicle traffic from over 400 cities around the world and daily passenger flights, that the 8.8% decline in emissions was the largest in modern history on a "year-on-year" basis, AFP said.

However, the research team also noted that emissions levels had rebounded to their normal levels by July as countries eased lockdown measures. "We were able to get a much faster and more accurate overview, including timelines that show how emissions decreases have corresponded to lockdown measures in each country," said Zhu Liu, the lead author of the study and member of the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University in Beijing. "While the CO2 drop is unprecedented, decreases of human activities cannot be the answer," co-author Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, and founding director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said in regard to ways to limit global warming. "We need structural and transformational changes in our energy production and consumption systems."

Dustin Johnson, the No.1-ranked golfer in the world, has tested positive for COVID-19. According to ESPN, Johnson has withdrawn from this week's tournament, the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. He had reportedly been suffering symptoms before testing positive. "Obviously, I am very disappointed,'' Johnson said, according to ESPN. "I was really looking forward to competing this week but will do everything I can to return as quickly as possible. I have already had a few calls with the tour's medical team and appreciate all the support and guidance they have given me.'' Johnson is the 15th player on the PGA Tour to test positive since it returned to play in June.

Dustin Johnson drives on the second tee during the second round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

New research from Cisco Systems has found that working from home has become a widely accepted option for workers, and one that they hope to continue even beyond the pandemic. According to Reuters, the survey produced by Cisco found that nearly nine out of 10 workers want to have the option to work from home after the COVID-19 work restrictions ease as well as have greater autonomy over their hours. At least two-thirds of workers reportedly have developed a greater appreciation for the benefits, as well as challenges, of working remotely, according to Reuters. The survey included 10,000 people from 12 markets across Europe, the Middle East and Russia.

In this May 2020 photo provided by Eli Lilly, a researcher tests possible COVID-19 antibodies in a laboratory in Indianapolis. Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. (David Morrison/Eli Lilly via AP)

Less than 24 hours after news broke that Johnson & Johnson had paused a late-stage clinical trial of a developmental coronavirus vaccine, drug maker Eli Lilly announced that it has temporarily stopped a phase three trial of its ACTIV-3 monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 over a safety concern. “Safety is of the utmost importance to Lilly,” Eli Lilly spokesperson Molly McCully said in a statement on Tuesday, CNBC reported. “We are aware that, out of an abundance of caution, the ACTIV-3 independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has recommended a pause in enrollment,” she said. “Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB to cautiously ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study.” The issue that arose centered on an unexplained illness that one of the trial’s participants developed, but it was still unclear whether the patient was receiving the trial drug or the placebo. Medical experts said these sorts of concerns are not uncommon in clinical drug trials and can sometimes be unrelated to the trial itself, and rather the result of some unrelated condition or sickness. The trial, sponsored by the U.S. government, is testing ACTIV-3, a monoclonal antibody developed by Eli Lilly, that is being used as part of a therapy that also includes remdesivir, an antiviral developed by Gilead Sciences and which has been given emergency use authorization for the virus. For more on the story, watch below.

AMC Theaters has announced that due to fewer customers and fewer movie released during the pandemic, the company may run out of money before the end of the year. Movie theaters across the country shut down in March as the pandemic hit and have slowly begun to reopen. According to CNN, 494 of nearly 600 of AMC’s theaters have reopened, but movie attendance is just 15% of what it was last year at this time. Another factor is that big movies have either been released directly to streaming services during the pandemic, or their theatrical release has been delayed. This news comes just one week after Cineworld Group, the owner Regal Cinemas, made a similar announcement following a significant decline in revenue. "There can be no certainty as to the future impact of COVID-19 on the group," Cineworld said.

Airfares have fallen to near-record low levels amid the pandemic with airlines offering deals for people that are willing to travel. Round trip flights across the country are going for less than $150, including Los Angeles to Chicago and Cleveland to Miami, USA Today said. At one point in April, a round trip flight from Pittsburgh to Tokyo was selling for a mere $173 just in time for the annual cherry blossoms. However, people that do plan to travel should make sure to double check any coronavirus guidelines at their destination, including quarantine mandates upon arriving. Prospective flyers should also pay close attention to any changes that airlines have made in recent months, such as mask mandates and limited services in flight.

Russia hit a new daily coronavirus record on Wednesday as the country's coronavirus task force said it had recorded 14,231 new cases in the last 24 hours, Reuters reported. The task force also reported 239 new deaths related to the virus, bringing the death toll since the pandemic began to 23,205. To help contain the rapid spread of the virus, Moscow schools are now turning to virtual learning for a two-week period for students from sixth to 11th grade, Reuters reported. More than 4,500 new infections were reported in the city of 13 million on Wednesday. Russia has counted more than 1.3 million cases of COVID-19, the fourth-highest global total after the U.S., India, and Brail, according to Johns Hopkins University. Check out the latest global stats from Johns Hopkins below.

• Confirmed cases: 38,195,651

• Fatalities: 1,087,343

• Recoveries: 26,507,421

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has gone into quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19. Morawiecki made the announcement amid the news of more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases being reported in Poland on Tuesday which is only the second time the country has ever had more than 5,000 new cases in a 24-hour period, according to Reuters. In a video posted on social media, the prime minister said, “I found out that on Friday I had contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. As a result of that and in accordance with sanitary procedures I am going into quarantine." It is still unclear if Morawiecki will participate in the European Union summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Liverpool pubs have warned that new coronavirus restrictions will wipe out many of their businesses, which are already suffering from the pandemic. Amid the surge of cases and hospital admissions, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced a new three-tier system for local lockdowns, according to Reuters. Pubs and bars are ordered to close down in "very high" areas of the tier system, and Liverpool is expected to be in that level. Due to being grouped into the very high risk area, pubs will be forced to close on Wednesday in the surrounding region. Infection rates in northwest England continued to soar in recent weeks, with just under 600 cases per 100,000 people being seen in Liverpool. Health chiefs urge that action needs to be taken now to prevent hospitals from becoming overflowed.

An elderly woman who was suffering from Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare type of blood cancer, has died after being reinfected with COVID-19. A report published by Oxford University Press said the patient was first admitted to the hospital earlier in the year and tested positive for the coronavirus before being discharged five days later, according to The Independent. Following chemotherapy treatment for her blood cancer and 59 days after originally being diagnosed with COVID-19, she began to develop a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. After being admitted to the hospital, her oxygen saturation was at 90 percent and shewas tested for the coronavirus again; the test result came back positive.After eight days, her condition continued to deteriorate and she died two weeks later. Virus samples from the patient showed that she had been infected by two distinct versions of SARS-CoV-2. Researchers said reinfections become more likely once antibody levels decrease from initial infection of the coronavirus.

The battle of the birds will take place in front of live spectators instead of motionless cardboard cutouts as the Philadelphia Eagles welcome 7,500 fans for this Sunday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens. Season ticket holders will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for this weekend’s game, as well as for an upcoming game against the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday. "We have been working very closely with state and local officials, public health experts, and the National Football League on a number of scenarios to safely bring Eagles fans back to Lincoln Financial Field," President Don Smolenski said. "On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, I would like to thank Governor Wolf, Mayor Kenney, and their respective representatives for the support and guidance over these past few months. We will all continue to stay in close communication and will be prepared to adjust and adapt as needed."

South Korean health authorities have ordered a new mask mandate for many locations in high-risk areas of the country, including public transit, hospitals, long-term care facilities and mass rallies. The mandate is expected to be enforced and will face fines of up to $87 if violated. Harsher penalties can include fines up to $2,600 as well as a full business closure if facility operators and rally organizers fail to enforce the mandate, according to UPI. The mandate went into effect on Tuesday but a one-month grace period is being used before fines are enforced. Social distancing guidelines for the country recently went from Level 2 to Level 1 and nightclubs, karaoke rooms, gyms and buffet restaurants were allowed to reopen this week. Health officials continue to stress the importance of wearing a face covering to slow the spread of the virus. South Korea has been seeing a rise in cases recently, reaching over 100 new infections for the first time in six days on Tuesday.

Amid a rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions, all elective surgeries have been canceled in Belfast this week, Reuters reported. The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which runs all hospitals within Northern Ireland's capital city, canceled operations, including cancer procedures, for the rest of the week with no guesstimate as to how long the surgeries would be canceled for, Reuter’s source said. The region has become one of Europe’s biggest COVID-19 hotspots in recent weeks. “More people are requiring specialist clinical care because of the numbers of COVID patients in our hospitals. The extremely difficult decision was made to cancel elective surgery this week,” the source told Reuters. On Tuesday, there were 863 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its cumulative seven-day rate per 100,000 people to 334.1, Northern Ireland’s health department reported.

For the first time since they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis on Sept. 27, the Tennessee Titans will return to the football field tonight for a rare Tuesday night football matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Titans season turned chaotic following an outbreak of COVID-19 within the organization. Test results from Monday came back negative on Tuesday morning, allowing the game agains the Bills in Nashville to take place, according to ESPN. Since Sept. 24, a total of 13 players and 11 staff members tested positive.

According to CBS Sports, the Titans-Bills matchup is only the second NFL game to take place on a Tuesday in the past 70 years. The most recent occurrence was the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles in December 2010. That game was moved due to a major snowstorm in Philadelphia. A clear and crisp night for football is forecast for Nashville. Fans that are attending the game at Nissan Stadium will want to bring a jacket or hooded sweatshirt with them as temperatures are forecast to dip into the mid-50s by the fourth quarter.

(Image/AccuWeather)

The willingness of Americans to take a coronavirus vaccine has plummeted 11 percent, falling to 50% in the last week of September. Gallup Panel data recorded in late July that 66% of Americans were willing to take a vaccine for COVID-19. That number fell to 61% in August and has now declined to 50%. Despite the lowered readiness to take the vaccine, the percentage of Americans who will continue to delay returning to normal daily activities until a vaccine is available continues to rise to a new high of 26%. Those that are ready to resume normal activities right now is also nearing a high at 27% a percentage that hasn't been reported since April. Young adults continue to be the most willing to be vaccinated with those aged 18-34 having a 62% willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine.

Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Associated Press. The Portuguese soccer federation announced the positive test result and noted that Ronaldo was doing well and had no symptoms. Ronaldo is currently with the Portugal national team which is competing in the Nations League, an international soccer competition. The star forward played against France on Sunday in Paris, but has been removed from the lineup ahead of Portugal's Wednesday match against Sweden in Lisbon. The entire Portugal squad will now go under another round of testing due to the positive test result.

A 25-year-old man from Washoe County, Nevada, is said to be the first American to have been infected twice with the novel coronavirus. According to CNBC, the diagnosis was revealed by a study in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal and the man was said to have become seriously ill following the second infection. The man initially became ill back in March after reporting symptoms such as sore throat, cough, headache, nausea and diarrhea. He tested positive around April 18, but the symptoms were said to have cleared by April 27, according to CNBC. The patient eventually tested negative on May 9 and May 26 following an extended period in isolation.

However, the man once again began reporting symptoms on May 28 and tested positive for the second time on June 5. He was taken to a hospital after experiencing shortness of breath, along with some of the aforementioned symptoms as well as fever, CNBC said. The man has since recovered. “These findings suggest that the patient was infected by SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions by a genetically distinct virus. Thus, previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not guarantee total immunity in all cases,” the researchers said, according to CNBC.

One of the world's most popular historical landmarks recently reopened, but for only one person. Peru officials opened the ruins of Machu Picchu this past weekend for a Japanese tourist who waited almost seven months to enter the historic site while he was stuck in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic. Peru Minister of Culture Alejandro Neyra, said Monday that the tourist, identified as Jesse Katayama, was granted entry into the ruins thanks to a special request he submitted while being stuck in the town of Aguas Calientes since mid-March, The Guardian reported. “He had come to Peru with the dream of being able to enter,” Neyra said. “The Japanese citizen has entered together with our head of the park so that he can do this before returning to his country.”

Katayama is the first visitor to enter the ruins since the pandemic caused the historic site to shut down in March. “This is so amazing! Thank you!” Katayama said in a video recorded on the top of Machu Picchu mountain. Katayama had only planned to be in Peru for a couple of days prior to the pandemic, The Guardian reported. Neyra noted that starting next month, Much Picchu will be reopened for both foreign and national visitors. Watch the video below for more.

FILE - This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company. (Cheryl Gerber/Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson via AP, File)

Johnson & Johnson has paused its coronavirus vaccine trial after one of the participants came down with what is being called an "unexplained illness." According to STAT News, a document was sent to outside researchers noting that the "pausing rule" had been met and the online system used to enroll new patients in the vaccine trial, which involves 60,000 patients in the U.S. and other countries, had been closed. A committee that watches the safety of patients in clinical trials, known as the data and safety monitoring board, has been convened, STAT reported.

“We must respect this participant’s privacy. We’re also learning more about this participant’s illness, and it’s important to have all the facts before we share additional information,” Johnson & Johnson said in a statement, according to STAT. Johnson & Johnson noted that illnesses, accidents and other bad medical outcomes are an expected part of clinical studies, STAT reported. Watch the video below for more.

Four Swiss Guards have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an announcement made by the Vatican on Monday. The Swiss Guards, the world’s oldest standing army, help protect 83-year-old Pope Francis as they stand by the Vatican gates. However, it seems that the virus has penetrated the gates in recent weeks, as four guards, along with three Vatican residents, have tested positive for the virus and are currently in isolation while their contacts are being traced. The infections come as Italy is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the Lazio region around the Vatican among the worst-hit areas in this second wave. Despite the positive cases, Pope Francis was seen on Monday once again without a mask, as he greeted Cardinal George Pell in his private studio, according to The Associated Press.

Despite overcoming case spikes in both late March and early June, Iran is now dealing with a third surge in cases and the spike has resulted in more deaths than even before. On Monday, the country recorded 272 new COVID-19 fatalities, the most in a single day since the beginning of the outbreak. The country hasn't seen a day with fewer than 3,000 new cases since September 20 and has now seen a total of 28,816 deaths from the coronavirus.

Elsewhere around the world, here are the latest updated global totals from Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 37,841,551

• Fatalities: 1,081,332

• Recoveries: 26,301,404

The head of the World Health Organization warned against deliberately allowing the spread of the coronavirus in hopes of achieving herd immunity. “Herd immunity is a concept used for vaccination, in which a population can be protected from a certain virus if a threshold of a vaccination is reached,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, according to The Guardian. He added that “herd immunity is achieved by protecting people from a virus, not by exposing them to it.” Tedros went on to say that relying on naturally obtaining herd immunity would be “simply unethical,” due to the lack of information that is currently available about the development of immunity to COVID-19. He pointed to some cases where people are believed to have been reinfected with the virus, while in some cases people could also experience long-term health problems after infection. 

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many Canadians might not be willing to risk their health to escape the cold this winter. However, many are still traveling down to Florida, despite government warnings against travel. “I haven’t seen winter since 1991,” Thérèse Stinziani told CBC News' Alison Northcott. “Confined here in the cold weather or confined in Florida and I can also go in the beach, I prefer 100% to be in Florida.” With the U.S.-Canada border being closed to non-essential travel, snowbirds will have to spend more money this year, as they will have to travel by plane and pay transport companies to drive their cars down to the U.S. “We are authorized to cross the borders with their cars and RVs, so we transport it to Florida and people just fly out there,” Michael Couturier, who works at Transport KMC, told CBC News. 

Jesse Shapiro, a professor of microbiology and immunology at McGill University warned that this increased circulation over a short period of time could cause problems for the healthcare systems on both sides of the border, as he said that “a large number of people traveling can overwhelm the ability of public health and contact tracing to do their job.” Click here to watch the full news report.

New mothers who test positive for the coronavirus do not pass the virus onto their newborn babies, according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics. Even after sharing hospital rooms and breastfeeding, the infants did not contract the virus. "Between our findings and other studies, it is now known that there is a relatively low likelihood of vertical transmission from [COVID-19]-positive mothers to their newborns," study co-author and pediatrician Melissa Stockwell told UPI. "We also show that the risk remains low even with newborns rooming-in and direct breastfeeding practices, both of which had been concerns early in the pandemic.” The lack of transmission, however, does not mean the deliveries are all smooth sailing. According to the study, mothers who had severe cases of COVID-19 delivered their babies a week earlier than healthy mothers on average, and the babies were four times more likely to need treatment for jaundice.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a slew of new restrictions on parts of the U.K. on Monday, which will result in the closure of some pubs. The new restrictions, which will shut down pubs and bars in areas under “very high” coronavirus alert, received an angry response from many who felt their freedoms were being limited by the government. Merseyside, a county in Northwest England, is the only area right now in the very high category, and is also closing gyms, leisure centers, betting shops, adult gaming centers and casinos. Johnson, however, has insisted that the new restrictions are needed to curb infection rates and prevent the need for another national lockdown, Reuters reported. “We must act to save lives,” Johnson said. “If we let the virus rip, then the bleak mathematics dictate that we would suffer not only an intolerable death toll from COVID, but we would put such a huge strain on our NHS with an uncontrolled second spike that our doctors and nurses would simply be unable to devote themselves to other treatments.”

As Germany continues its battle against COVID-19, the Defense Ministry announced on Monday that it is ready to deploy up to 15,000 soldiers to help civilian authorities fight the virus. The announcement comes as the number of new cases in the country surpassed 4,000 last week, with infections surging in Berlin and Frankfurt. Although 1,300 soldiers were already supporting the civilian administration, the government decided to reinforce the help, as they warned that the situation is spiraling out of control.

As cabin fever continues to affect millions of travelers across the world, some people are paying up to £360 to eat a meal onboard a stationary plane,according to The Guardian. Singapore Airlines has now launched a waiting list after tickets rapidly sold out for two weekends. The experience includes a meal from the standard Singapore Airlines menu, as well as the chance to watch a movie. Although prices can scale up to £360 ($470) for those who purchase a suite, those who pay £30 ($39) will still get a chance to get a tray in economy. Frequent flyers are also given the opportunity to cash in points towards a meal. The initiative by Singapore Airlines is the latest in a line of initiatives by many airlines to increase revenue as travel restrictions continue. The Australian carrier Qantas also joined the “flights to nowhere” strategy, as it recently sold out a sightseeing trip that flew passengers around the country from Sydney and back.

Human trials of Russia’s controversial “Sputnik V” vaccine have begun in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Russian officials. The UAE is now the second country to conduct trials of the vaccine, with Belarus being the first. Venezuela is reportedly on the schedule to conduct the next trials. The vaccine’s safety and efficacy has previously been called into question by some experts. However, Russian officials have fought back on criticisms by saying that any resistance to their vaccine is a reflection of Western bias held against the country, CNBC reported. Sputnik V was given regulatory approval in August, which made Russia the first country to reach that stage in vaccine development.

Shortly after surpassing 5 million coronavirus infections, Brazil reported yet another grime milestone as it passed 150,000 COVID-19-related deaths on Saturday, according to the BBC. With 150,198 reported deaths since March, Brazil is the country with the highest number of deaths in South America. In Colombia, the next worst-hit country, 27,495 people have died due to the virus.

Iowa became the latest state to pass the six-figure mark for coronavirus cases when it surpassed 100,000 on Monday morning, the Des Moines Register reported. Cases have remained high across the Midwest, and Iowa has been no exception with more than 10,000 new cases in the Hawkeye States since Oct. 1, the Register reported. Twenty-five states now have more than 100,000 cases of the novel coronavirus, according to a New York Times tally. California remains the state with the highest number with more than 857,000, followed by Texas with more than 830,000 and Florida which has more than 734,000.

President Donald Trump will hit the campaign trail once again on Monday after being hospitalized for the coronavirus last week. The first event of his campaign rally since it was halted earlier this month will take place at an airport in Sanford, Florida. Trump has more rallies planned in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Carolina throughout the week. Despite being hospitalized for three nights, Trump is now saying he feels good and has a note from a physician that states he is no longer infectious. “I passed the highest test, the highest standards, and I’m in great shape,” Trump said, according to Reuters.

The Los Angeles Lakers claimed the franchise's 17th NBA championship Sunday night, bringing an end to a marathon NBA season that underwent a four-month shutdown due to COVID-19. The Lakers title sent large crowds pouring into the streets near the team's arena, the Staples Center, in downtown Los Angeles. Some of the celebrations turned disruptive with The Associated Press reporting at least 67 arrests following the game. Many of the arrests were for failing to disperse although several others were charged with looting. The crowds gathered despite pleas from city officials to stay home due to the pandemic. “As we cheer our @Lakers’ 17th championship, please remember it’s still not safe to gather in groups,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted. Let’s honor our city's triumph by protecting others and making sure we don't spread the virus. Please celebrate safely at home. Do not gather at Staples Center. Thank you! The Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 to win the series in six games.

Imagine having no idea that a global pandemic is gripping planet Earth, and that it’s infected more than 37 million people and killed more than a million worldwide. That was just the case for a Canadian man – until he learned all the details about the coronavirus pandemic this weekend. How is that possible? Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, who was working with a think tank called the International Crisis Group, according to The National Post, was arrested, along with another Canadian man named Michael Spavor, in late 2018 by the Chinese government and charged with spying. The two have been detained ever since in what many have said was retaliation for Canada having arrested Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou. Until Saturday, they had been repeatedly denied any type of visitation by any Canadian officials since January as the coronavirus outbreak worsened in China. But on Saturday, during the nation’s Thanksgiving weekend, members of the Canadian consulate were allowed to meet with Kovrig and Spavor via virtual access, according to the CBC.

Numerous topics were discussed, but afterward Kovrig's wife, Vina Nadjibulla, revealed that her husband had no idea what had been unfolding around the world over the last nine months. Nadjibulla told CBC News that Kovrig was "greatly relieved to receive news from the outside world" after being completely cut off from the outside world for the better part of this year. "He was particularly heartened by reassurances regarding the health of everyone in the family and the ongoing efforts to secure his freedom,” the statement went on. His reaction to news of the pandemic was one of befuddlement. “He was astonished to learn about the details of the COVID-19 pandemic and remarked that it all sounded like some 'zombie apocalypse movie.'" Nadjibulla discussed hearing from her husband in an interview with The Globe and Mail and said, “I was relieved that his sense of humor seems intact. And to me, that’s the greatest indication that his spirit is unbroken. That he is still OK.” She added that "to be completely isolated and cut off from the world is extremely difficult for him."

Three young women wearing masks to help prevent the spread of coronavirus stand together using their phones in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul White)

(AP Photo/Paul White)

A new study out of Australia indicated that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can survive for up to 28 days on materials such as glass and stainless steel, according to Reuters. The study, which was produced by Australia's national science agency, found that at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), the virus can remain infectious on items such as plastic banknotes as well as on mobile phone screens. The 28-day time period is said to be much lengthier than the flu virus, influenza A, which has been found to survive on surfaces for 17 days, Reuters said. “It really reinforces the importance of washing hands and sanitizing where possible and certainly wiping down surfaces that may be in contact with the virus,” the study’s lead researcher, Shane Riddell said according to Reuters. Watch the video below for more.

Cambodians are turning to an old superstition to try to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus. In a video produced by AFP, a Ting Mong, or scarecrow, in a floral shirt with a pot for a head holds a stick as it guards a rural Cambodian home. Similar scarecrows have a history of being built in villages that are affected by diseases like dengue by superstitious farmers. “The elderly have superstitions, so during COVID-19 we set up a Ting Mong to prevent the disease from spreading” Sok Channy, a farmer, said. Ton Pheang, who is also a farmer, said he set up a Ting Mong because he was worried the virus would infect his children. “All the villagers did the same,” he said. So far, Cambodia has reported a very low infection rate for COVID-19 with only 283 reported cases and zero reported deaths among a population of 16.25 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the low number could be the result of a lack of testing. Watch the video below.

Twelve new cases of COVID-19 discovered Sunday in Qingdao, a city in northeastern China on the coast of the Yellow Sea, has officials scrambling to test the metropolis’ entire population for the coronavirus. According to the Global Times, a state-run newspaper in China, six of the new cases were asymptomatic and are linked to a hospital that has been used primarily for treating COVID-19 patients. Health officials in Qingdao have reportedly already begun the mass testing and are using a nucleic acid test campaign and expect testing of five of the city’s districts – or about two-thirds of the population -- to be completed within three days. They plan to have all 9 million people there tested within five days. A similar mass-testing campaign was carried out earlier this year in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the outbreak. According to VOA News, that mass testing campaign was carried out through a pool testing method, that allows medical workers to assess the samples of up to 10 people at a time. That Wuhan testing campaign, which tested 11 million people over 10 days and reportedly cost about $280 million to execute, relied on samples collected through throat swabs instead of nasal swab tests, which are more invasive – and provide a more reliable sample.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Twitter Sunday that he and his family were entering quarantine after it was revealed that a member of his security detail who drove with the family on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 later that day. Beshear said Sunday that he and his family "feel great" and that no one in the family had tested positive Beshear added that the family would use this opportunity as an example of how to properly quarantine. “We want to make sure we’re setting the example, and we want to make sure we’re keeping other people around us safe,” the governor said. Beshear had been notified by contact tracers about the positive test among the security team.

In a press release on Sunday, the governor's office said the state recorded 7,675 new coronavirus cases this past week, which marks the highest weekly toll of new cases in Kentucky so far. More than 80,000 cases have been reported in Kentucky throughout the pandemic. Three additional deaths were reported from the virus as well on Sunday, bringing the state death toll to 1,252. Watch the governor's full message to state residents below.

Since the start of October, numerous countries in the northwestern corner of Europe have seen multiple, record-breaking days of new coronavirus cases reported. After never seeing more than 7,200 new cases in a day for the first eight months of the outbreak, the United Kingdom has reported at least 12,800 new infections every day since October 3. Similarly, the Netherlands never seen a day with more than 3,400 cases before October, but hasn't had a day with fewer than 5,000 new cases since October 4. The same situation has unfolded in Belgium, where Saturday's new case report of 7,950 infections was a staggering jump for a country that never saw more than 2,500 new cases prior.

Elsewhere around the world, here are the latest updated global totals from Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 37,563,225

• Fatalities: 1,077,327

• Recoveries: 26,103,044

Here are the latest global coronavirus numbers, provided by researchers at Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 37,395,029

• Fatalities: 37,395,029

• Recoveries: 25,994,470

Developing a coronavirus vaccine on a global scale could kill half a million sharks across the world, according to Shark Allies, a nonprofit that advocates for protecting sharks. Squalene is a compound harvested from shark livers, and has been used in vaccines for malaria and the flu to boost the immune systems response to the illnesses, NPR reported. Each year, 2.7 million sharks are killed for squalene to be used in cosmetics as a moisturizing ingredient, and Shark Allies projects that an additional 500,000 sharks will need to be killed to produce a coronavirus vaccine on a global scale. "The problem is that squalene, used as an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, will be seen as something that's unavoidable, and then as it becomes tested, it becomes the normal ingredient, and nothing else will be tested," Shark Allies executive director Stefanie Brendl said. "Our ask is that we start testing the alternatives, because long term, we cannot rely on a wild animal resource for a global need of anything.”

While the current vaccines in development are intended to be administered through an injection in the arm, scientists are now looking into the potential to create a vaccine that enters the body through the nose and mouth. Vaccine developers are hoping that creating a vaccine that enters the body in the same way as the virus itself will result in a better response from the immune system than an injectable vaccination, Bloomberg reported. A spray or inhaled vaccination that enters through the nose would also prevent the virus from growing inside the nose and then spreading to the rest of the body from there. “The first generation of vaccines are probably going to protect a lot of people,” Michael Diamond, an infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, said. “But I think it’s the second- and third-generation vaccines — and maybe intranasal vaccines will be a key component of this — that ultimately are going to be necessary. Otherwise, we’ll continue to have community transmission.”

Halloween is right around the corner and some communities have decided to cancel trick-or-treating due to the coronavirus pandemic. But some people like Andrew Beattie are getting creative when it comes to remaining socially distant when passing out candy in neighborhoods where trick-or-treating is still being held. The Cincinnati resident build a ‘touch free’ candy chute out of items from around his house so that he can safely give candy to young masqueraders on Halloween night. He posted his creation on Facebook and it went viral, racking up more than 85,000 shares.

“If this candy chute makes things easier or safer, AND gives those with mobility challenges more of a chance to participate, then what's the harm? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, ya' know,” Beattie posted on Facebook. The length of the tube means that he will be able to follow social distancing guidelines throughout the night, in addition to other safety measures. “I, personally, will be wearing a mask and changing gloves frequently, and the candy will be from a factory-sealed bag that I'll open outside by the candy chute,” Beattie said. People can build a similar candy chute of their own with a long cardboard shipping tube or pvc pipe, a bit of paint and a few decorations.

As COVID-19 cases in Myanmar continue to surge, the country has launched a new initiative to make quarantine a little more entertaining. The ‘Happy Covid’ center, located in Yangon, aims at helping those with mild or no symptoms remain in a good mental state. “When patients enter this center, we don’t want them to have the feeling like they’re in a hospital and aren’t well,” Thazin Myint Kyu, a volunteer at the center, told AFP. The center’s facilities include a gym and a library, as well as small rooms with beds. Watch the full video below.

The New England Patriots had a new positive coronavirus test Sunday morning which prompted the Broncos-Patriots game, originally scheduled to take place Monday, to be postponed. The NFL shut down the Patriot's facility on Sunday morning for the third time in 10 days in order to conduct more testing, according to ESPN. The matchup between the two teams has been moved to next Sunday and will result in several schedule changes. The new schedule is reported to go as follows:

• Broncos @ Patriots moved from Monday 10/12 to Sunday 10/18

• Chargers @ Broncos moved from Sunday 11/22 to Sunday 11/1

• Dolphins @ Broncos moved from Sunday 10/18 to Sunday 11/22

Many questions still remain about the schedule such as a Jaguars vs Chargers game already scheduled on Sunday Nov. 1st. The NFL is expected to make an official announcement on further changes in the coming days.

Once employees are allowed to return to the office, Microsoft will change its remote work policy to a “hybrid” model. While the vast majority of Microsoft employees are still working from home during the ongoing pandemic, the company said they will allow for far greater flexibility once US offices eventually reopen. All employees will be able to work from home for less than 50% of the work week. They will also be able to work remotely 100% of the time with their manager’s approval. “The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us to think, live, and work in new ways,” says Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s chief people officer, in a note to employees, according to CNBC. “We will offer as much flexibility as possible to support individual workstyles, while balancing business needs, and ensuring we live our culture.”

There have been at least 7,034,432 cases of coronavirus in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic started, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the United States. The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

As the coronavirus pandemic persists, one industry in particular continues to be hit hard — the airline industry. So far this year, 43 commercial airlines have already failed, meaning they have ceased their operations entirely, CNBC reported. As a result of airline failures, 484 planes have been out of use. The past 10 years for the industry has seen a consistent increase in demand before the coronavirus pandemic shifted gears for airlines across the world. “The worst is not behind any airline, not only Qatar Airways,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told CNBC’s Dan Murphy via video call on Thursday. “There will soon be other bailouts in Europe, there will be other collapses around the world. Because of the second wave, I think it is ... even more severe than in the first wave.”

On Sunday, the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans closed their practice facilities after both teams had a positive coronavirus test. This will be the Patriots third shutdown in the last 10 days. The Patriots confirmed that it had a positive test on Sunday by saying "we have one new positive test and all Tier 1 and Tier 2 football employees will continue their daily testing. Those employees will not be going into the facility today." The NFL has postponed Monday night's game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. Both teams will now have a bye this week and the NFL will work to reschedule the matchup for later in the season.

The Titans have temporarily shut down its team facility just one day after Tennessee returned to the practice field for the first time this month following a COVID-19 outbreak among players and coaches. “This morning we learned that a staff member tested positive. We have temporarily closed our facility and are in communication with the league on the next steps," a Titans spokesperson said in a statement.

New England Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) hands off to New England Patriots running back Damien Harris (37) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Sam's Club announced plans to extend its Black Friday sales from one-day to multiple days amid the coronavirus. There will be a sales event in November and another in December that will each last nine days, according to USA Today. The Black Friday sale will also be extended to 10 days this year as opposed to the four seen last year. Sam's Club now joins other major retailers in moving holiday deals earlier or longer. Other major retailers to do so include Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy. A survey conducted by Sam's Club showed 61% of members said they would be shopping online this year and 31% would begin shopping earlier. Curbside pickup will also become available for the first time during the holiday season after being rolled out earlier this year.

Here are the latest global coronavirus numbers, provided by researchers at Johns Hopkins University:

• Confirmed cases: 37,087,467

• Fatalities: 1,071,399

• Recoveries: 25,762,444

After a spike in coronavirus cases, France broke its single-day record of new cases. Data from Saturday revealed a jump from the previous day of over 26,896 new cases, according to the French Ministry of Health. The death toll also rose by 54 from the previous day. Due to the drastic rise in new cases, the Health Ministry ordered all bars in Lyons, the third largest city in the country, to shut down, The Hill reported.

A five-star resort in Thailand is offering a luxurious and strict quarantine experience for its guests. The Senses Resort, in Phuket’s Patong Bay, has reserved 16 villas for tourists who have to quarantine upon arrival. “The package includes three meals a day, private car transfer from Phuket international airport and a nurse is on call 24/7,” Thanchanok Pramkull, the resort’s assistant director for sales, told AFP. Pramkull also added that guests who are staying at these quarantine villas will have a “temperature check-up twice a day, also Covid test will take place on day five and day 10.” Guests will only be allowed to leave their room once the quarantine program is finished. Watch the full video below.

Rice fields in southern South Korea have been etched with a message meant to inspire hope and maybe a little joy in people living there  – and around the world – as the global coronavirus pandemic drags on. The rice art shows images of a lady bug and other types of animals and includes the words, “Cheer Up!” The different images are made using a plethora of rice varieties. "Our town's slogan is to grow together through participation and communication,” Young Soo-hyun, a farmer and the chair of a local residents council, told AFP. “So fittingly, primary and middle school students, members of various groups in the district, merchants and many others have all come together -- right from the beginning of planting the crops till the end of harvesting." Watch the video below to get a bird’s-eye view of the rice fields.

According to a study conducted in Israel, men who suffer from moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 could experience reduced fertility. The study’s leader, Dr. Dan Aderka of Sheba Medical Center, reported that the virus was found within the sperm of some 13% of screened male COVID-19 patients. Additionally, there was a 50% reduction in the sperm volume, concentration and mobility in patients with moderate symptoms, even 30 days after the initial diagnosis of the virus. Aderka said that the cause of this phenomenon could be due to the presence of the ACE2 receptor on the surface of the cell of the Sertoli and Leydig cells of the testis. He added that the coronavirus binds to the ACE2 receptors and destroys the cells, causing infertility. “As normal sperm maturation takes 70 to 75 days, it is possible that if we are doing a sperm examination two and a half months after recovery, we may see even more reduced fertility,” Aderka told The Jerusalem Post. “It could be even more detrimental.”

Paris region hospitals had moved into emergency mode as coronavirus cases continue to spike in the area, as almost half of all patients in intensive care units are there for COVID-19. Almost 19,000 new cases of the virus were reported on Wednesday which makes it a record 24-hour rise for the country. ICU levels across France stood at around 1,400 which matches levels not seen since late May, according to Reuters. Paris region health director Aurelien Rousseau said the number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs has risen above 40% and called on citizens to reduce interactions with others. Further limits on movement will be necessary to contain the recent spike, French President Emmanuel Macron said. The regions of Lyon, Lille, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne have been put on maximum COVID-19 alert.

Brussels Airport is accelerating preparations and getting ready to distribute potential COVID-19 vaccines, according to CNN. In a statement released on Wednesday, the airport specified that a taskforce at the cargo division at the airport is working “full force on preparing scenarios” so that they can transport the potential vaccine in a “safe and efficient way.” The airport is working with different pharmaceutical companies to evaluate “all scenarios for the various types of vaccines,” which include vaccines that “have to be shipped on dry ice," as well as some that "will demand refrigeration at the customary 2-9 degrees Celsius,” the statement added.

Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, tweeted Saturday morning that he was released from an area hospital following a bout with COVID-19. Christie had been hospitalized for the past week after testing positive and dealing with what he said were "mild symptoms," from the coronavirus at the time he was admitted. "I am happy to let you know that this morning I was released from Morristown Medical Center," Christie wrote on Twitter. "I want to thank the extraordinary doctors & nurses who cared for me for the last week. Thanks to my family & friends for their prayers. I will have more to say about all of this next week."

In this Nov. 29, 2017 file photo, New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a news conference in Newark, N.J. Christie tweeted on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Several people connected to a church that recently held a 10-day indoor prayer service have tested positive for COVID-19, leading officials to believe the 10-day service may have led to an outbreak. The New Hampshire Department of Health is investigating the incident at Gate City Church in Nashua, which is located south of Concord. The prayer service was held from Sept. 19 to Sept. 28, NBC News reported. "One of the things that we did learn was during their singing, they took their masks off," Nashua Public Health Director Bobbie Bagley said. "And we know that when you sing you're releasing respiratory droplets in the air, so that's one of the high-risk activities that can occur that can cause exposure in a community.” The health department has asked that anyone who attend the service get tested for COVID-19.

As the world closes in on 37 million total cases of COVID-19, Russia, the country with the fourth-highest case total worldwide, has set a new daily record. The country's cases increased by 12,846 on Saturday, a new all-time record, according to Reuters. The previous record of 12,126 had been set on Friday.

Here's a look at global totals as compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Total cases: 36,933,166

Fatalities: 1,068,995

Recoveries: 25,687,547

Through the first month of the NFL season, a common sight on sidelines has been that of coaches pulling down their masks – or not wearing one at all – to argue a call with the officials. As of this weekend’s slate of games, the referees will now have recourse and slap a team with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if a coach approaches them not properly wearing a face covering. The move was announced by the league’s senior vice president of officiating administration, Perry Fewell, according to Reuters, and is in response to a complaint from the union representing the NFL refs. In a memo to teams, Fewell said, “We have seen multiple occasions where head coaches have removed their masks to communicate with game officials during games. Doing so creates unnecessary, increased risk for the game official, the head coach, and others, and is inconsistent with the requirement that face coverings be worn at all times.” He added, “Consistent with all other individuals on the sideline, game officials are entitled to your respect as they perform their job duties during the pandemic.” The NFL has already levied more than $1 million in fines already this year against coaches who have violated the COVID-19 mask rule and their teams.

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