Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gives an update at MetroHealth Medical Center on the state's preparedness and education efforts to limit the potential spread of a new virus which caused a disease called COVID-19, Feb. 27, 2020, in Cleveland.
Tony Dejak/AP, FILE DeWine has no symptoms and plans to quarantine at his home for the next two weeks, his office said.DeWine has "no idea" where he may have contracted coronavirus, he said at a news conference.4:06 p.m.: State Department lifts global level 4 travel advisory The State Department on Thursday lifted the level 4 health advisory which was put in place on March 19 to advise Americans to avoid all international travel.MORE: Coronavirus testing: What top officials say went wrong “With health and safety conditions improving in some countries and potentially deteriorating in others, the Department is returning to our previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice (with Levels from 1-4 depending on country-specific conditions)," the State Department said.3:24 p.m.: 1st large-scale testing of front-line health care providers finds 13% had antibodies The first large-scale testing of front-line health care providers found that 13% of them tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, New York's Northwell Health said.MORE: Timeline: How coronavirus got started Northwell Health said it offered free antibody testing to its 72,000 employees. More than half of them were tested for coronavirus antibodies and 13% of them tested positive.The positive sample pool was 28.4% nurses and 9.3% physicians, Northwell Health said.In the general New York state population, 12.3% of people had antibodies, according to a recent state antibody screenings study.In this May 14, 2020, file photo, a registered nurse draws blood to test for COVID-19 antibodies at Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.In this May 14, 2020, file photo, a registered nurse draws blood to test for COVID-19 antibodies at Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, FILE Among New York City firefighters and EMT members, 17.1% tested positive for antibodies, according to a report from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.12:55 p.m.: Fauci: 'Do not abandon' distancing, masks in anticipation of vaccine Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is urging the public to "not abandon" public health measures "in anticipation of a vaccine."Passengers on a train from Florida stop and register with officials at Penn Station during an effort to screen out-of-state travelers and enforce the state's 14-day COVID-19 quarantine in New York, Aug. 6, 2020.Passengers on a train from Florida stop and register with officials at Penn Station during an effort to screen out-of-state travelers and enforce the state's 14-day COVID-19 quarantine in New York, Aug. 6, 2020.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters "When you're talking about public health measures, there are many, many things that we can do," Fauci said at a briefing Thursday hosted by the Alliance of Public Health. "But you can distill them down to five or six that everyone should be doing: masks, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, outdoor better than indoor, washing your hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based type of sanitizer."Travel Safely Ambassador Carlos Hernandez hands out a face masks to an airline passenger at LAX airport, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Los Angeles, Aug. 4, 2020.Travel Safely Ambassador Carlos Hernandez hands out a face masks to an airline passenger at LAX airport, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Los Angeles, Aug. 4, 2020.
Lucy Nicholson/ReutersA woman wearing a protective face mask walks in New York, Aug. 3, 2020.A woman wearing a protective face mask walks in New York, Aug. 3, 2020.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Fauci said we could see different scenarios as we get into flu season this fall, including a situation where the seasonal flu is crowded out by COVID-19 infections. But he said he hopes to see more people getting the flu shot this year. Approximately 170 million people did last year.MORE: A COVID-19 vaccine will still save lives even if it's not 100% effective, experts say That combined with COVID-19 public health measures could result in a "blunted" season for both, he said."That's a goal that we should aspire to that I think is possible," Fauci said.11:25 a.m.: Florida has 3 counties with no ICU beds In Florida, 17.4% of the state's ICU beds were open as of Thursday morning, according to the state's Agency for Healthcare Administration.A medic transfers a patient on a stretcher from an ambulance outside of Emergency at Coral Gables Hospital where Coronavirus patients are treated in Coral Gables near Miami, on July 30, 2020.A medic transfers a patient on a stretcher from an ambulance outside of Emergency at Coral Gables Hospital where Coronavirus patients are treated in Coral Gables near Miami, on July 30, 2020.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Forty-two hospitals had no available beds while 35 hospitals had just one, the agency said.MORE: Faces of some of the more than 150,000 lives lost in US to coronavirus Three counties -- Monroe, Nassau and Okeechobee -- had no available ICU beds.These numbers are expected to fluctuate throughout the day as hospitals and medical centers provide updates.10:50 a.m.: Birx warns about increases in percent-positivity in 9 cities, California Central Valley Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, is warning states about an increase in test-positivity rates in nine cities across the country, as well as in California's Central Valley.According to Birx's Wednesday call with state and local officials obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, Baltimore, Atlanta, Kansas City, Portland, Omaha and California's Central Valley all remain at a "very high level." People stand in line to get tested for COVID-19 at a free walk-up testing site on July 11, 2020 in Atlanta.People stand in line to get tested for COVID-19 at a free walk-up testing site on July 11, 2020 in Atlanta.
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Three other cities, Chicago, Boston and Detroit, which Birx described as in the "green zone," have seen a "slow uptick" in their rate of positivity.Plexiglass surrounds a blackjack dealer at the MGM Grand Detroit casino, Aug. 5, 2020, in Detroit.Plexiglass surrounds a blackjack dealer at the MGM Grand Detroit casino, Aug. 5, 2020, in Detroit.
Carlos Osorio/AP Washington, D.C., is not considered in the "green zone," but has also seen an increase in its rate of positivity.Birx stressed that local officials must look at the increases "very carefully" to ensure they're kept under control.She specifically referenced several states, including California, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, noting that their COVID-19 trends are “concerning." The new concerns come as the country sees "encouraging" news across the South, according to Birx, as cases and test-positivity decline.10 a.m.: School district moves to virtual learning when over 90 staff members forced to quarantine Over 90 staff members in Georgia's Barrow County School System are in quarantine due to a confirmed COVID-19 case, a suspect case or direct contact with a confirmed case, prompting the district to make a last-minute switch to virtual learning, district officials announced Wednesday.Social distancing dividers for students have been placed in a classroom at St. Benedict School, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Montebello, near Los Angeles, July 14, 2020.Social distancing dividers for students have been placed in a classroom at St. Benedict School, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Montebello, near Los Angeles, July 14, 2020.
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters The district had planned to begin the year with in-person and virtual learning.MORE: Clorox wipes and wireless mics: Here are teachers' 2020 back-to-school wish lists amid COVID-19 "If today was the first day of school, we would have been hard-pressed to have sufficient staff available to open," Superintendent Chris McMichael said.Distance learning for all students will begin Aug. 17.MORE: School buses adapt to keep kids safe during COVID-19 crisis On Friday, district officials will "present a phased approach to bring students back into the classrooms as quickly as possible," the school system said.8:22 a.m.: France reports highest single-day rise in cases in over 2 months France on Wednesday reported its highest single-day rise in coronavirus infections in more than two months amid concerns about a resurgence in Europe.According to data published by France's national public health agency, the country recorded 1,695 new cases in 24 hours, the largest daily increase since May 30 when 1,828 new cases were identified in a 24-hour reporting period.People wearing face masks to prevent against the spread of COVID-19 walk past the Gate of Honor at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France, on Aug. 4, 2020.People wearing face masks to prevent against the spread of COVID-19 walk past the Gate of Honor at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France, on Aug. 4, 2020.
Michel Euler/AP Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care units across France has decreased over the past 24 hours, according to the agency's data.Overall, more than 194,000 people in France have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. At least 30,305 of them have died -- the third-highest death toll in Europe, according to the agency's data.8:07 a.m.: 'We cannot at all exercise fatigue,' Africa CDC warns John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned Thursday that "we cannot at all exercise fatigue" in the response to the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of confirmed cases on the African continent nears 1 million.More than 992,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the continent of 1.3 billion people since the start of the pandemic, with more than half in South Africa, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC.A tally kept by Johns Hopkins University shows South Africa with the fifth-highest number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the world.Mourners pray during a burial ceremony at the Olifantsveil Cemetery outside Johannesburg, South Africa, on Aug. 6, 2020. The frequency of burials in South Africa has significantly increased during the coronavirus pandemic, as the country became one of the top five worst-hit nations.Mourners pray during a burial ceremony at the Olifantsveil Cemetery outside Johannesburg, South Africa, on Aug. 6, 2020. The frequency of burials in South Africa has significantly increased during the coronavirus pandemic, as the country became one of the top five worst-hit nations.
Jerome Delay/AP Africa has seen an 11% jump in cases over the last week, which is lower than in recent weeks, but Nkengasong cautioned that the data must be observed over several weeks to determine the real trend.Nkengasong also noted concerns over the low rate of testing across the continent and the rising number of cases in several African nations including Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. He said if countries do the right things to prevent further spread of the virus, "we have a good chance of beating back this pandemic."7:18 a.m.: Weekly testing rate falls for 1st time in US, data shows The number of COVID-19 tests being conducted across the United States has apparently taken a plunge.A total of 664,272 tests were conducted around the country on Wednesday, the lowest figure since July 8, according to data collected and analyzed by the COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization launched from The Atlantic.The group attributed some of the drop in testing to technical issues with reporting systems as well as storm-related closures in some states."Still, the problem is broader. Weekly testing declined for the first time ever in our dataset," the COVID Tracking Project wrote in a series of posts on Twitter. "There are widespread problems right now in the top-level data. In different ways, California and Florida have had trouble reporting complete data because of storms and IT problems. Because they are populous states with large outbreaks, that influences the national numbers."6:03 a.m.: Number of babies testing positive has nearly doubled in this Texas county The number of babies testing positive for COVID-19 in Nueces County in southwest Texas has nearly doubled since mid-July, according to a report by Corpus Christi ABC affiliate KIII.A child looks up at his mother during a double funeral service for Lola M. Simmons-Jones and her daughter Lashaye Antoinette Allen, who both died of COVID-19, at the Denley Drive Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, on July 30, 2020.A child looks up at his mother during a double funeral service for Lola M. Simmons-Jones and her daughter Lashaye Antoinette Allen, who both died of COVID-19, at the Denley Drive Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, on July 30, 2020.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 85 children under the age of 2 had tested positive for the virus in Nueces County by mid-July. Now, that number is "close to 167," according to Annette Rodriguez, health director of the Corpus Christi Nueces County Public Health District."That number has almost doubled and that hasn't been a very long time period," Rodriguez told KIII.5:28 a.m.: Data shows disproportionate number of non-white children are dying in US A disproportionate number of non-white children are dying from the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to data released in an internal memo from the Federal Emergency Management Agency obtained by ABC News on Wednesday night.Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases among people under the age of 18 from March 1 to Aug. 3 were 40% Hispanic, 34% white and 19% Black. The ethnicity breakdown of those patients who died from the disease is 38% Hispanic, 34% Black and 25% white, according to the memo.Jose Vatres, right, holds his son Aidin who reacts as nurse practitioner Alexander Panis, left, takes a nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 at a mobile testing station in a public school parking area in Compton, California, on April 28, 2020.Jose Vatres, right, holds his son Aidin who reacts as nurse practitioner Alexander Panis, left, takes a nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 at a mobile testing station in a public school parking area in Compton, California, on April 28, 2020.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images The gender breakdown of those cases is 50% male and 50% female. However, just as in adults, COVID-19 is more fatal among males under 18, making up 64% of the deaths compared to females under 18 accounting for 36%, according to the memo.What to know about coronavirus:People walk on the shore at Hampton Beach in Hampton, New Hampshire, on Aug. 5, 2020, as COVID-19 cases in New England are on the rise. Hampton Beach is close to the boarder of Massachusetts and attracts thousands of people from Massachusetts every week to the New Hampshire beach and boardwalk.
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images A total of 4,823,892 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 158,256 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country's cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up and crossing 70,000 for the first time in mid-July.Medical staff prepare to administer rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens near Miami, Florida, on Aug. 5, 2020. In one of two state-run locations, Hard Rock Stadium is now offering rapid testing with same-day results.Medical staff prepare to administer rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens near Miami, Florida, on Aug. 5, 2020. In one of two state-run locations, Hard Rock Stadium is now offering rapid testing with same-day results.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Many states have seen a rise in infections in recent weeks, with some -- including Arizona, California and Florida -- reporting daily records.New data suggests that the national surge in cases could be leveling off, according to an internal memo from the Federal Emergency Management Agency obtained by ABC News on Tuesday night. Nationwide, the last week saw a 9.2% decrease in cases from the previous seven-day period. There was also a 7% increase in new deaths compared to the previous week, but the figure is lower than the 20-30% week-over-week increase the country has seen of late, according to the memo.ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs, Josh Margolin, Arielle Mitropoulos, Cindy Smith, Eric Strauss and Scott Withers contributed to this report.Source : abcnews.go.com