The novel coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 613,000 people worldwide.
Over 14.8 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their nations’ outbreaks.
The United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 3.8 million diagnosed cases and at least 141,845 deaths.
Latest headlines:
Trump holds 1st coronavirus-focused briefing in 3 months
Fauci says he wasn’t invited to White House briefing
South Carolina National Guard to help hospitals with surge
10 new states added to NY travel advisory list
Here is how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Check back for updates.
7:48 p.m.: Los Angeles says most new cases are in people below age 41
Younger people are continuing to drive new COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County, health department officials said.
The county reported 2,741 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, of which 57% were people under age 41.
However an overwhelming majority of all deaths — nearly 75% — are in people over the age of 65, Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said. That age group accounts for 11% of all cases.
“The tragedy of what we are witnessing is that many of our younger residents are interacting with each other and not adhering to the recommended prevention measures, while our older residents continue to experience the results of this increased spread with the worst health outcomes, including death,” Ferrer said.
The county has 161,673 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,154 deaths.
Statewide, California reported 400,769 total cases on Tuesday. That number will likely edge out New York’s statewide total — currently at 408,181 — on Wednesday.
6:34 p.m.: Texas continues to see record hospitalizations
Texas reported a new record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on Tuesday.
There are 10,848 patients currently hospitalized statewide, according to state data. Hospitalizations have remained above 10,000 since July 10.
The state saw 9,305 new cases on Monday, for a total of 341,739. There were 131 new fatalities, bringing the statewide total to 4,151.
The testing positivity rate was 15.05% as of Monday.
5:52 p.m.: Trump, at his 1st coronavirus briefing in 3 months, urges mask use
At President Donald Trump’s first briefing focused on the coronavirus crisis in nearly three months, he encouraged people to wear masks and said that the pandemic will “get worse before it gets better.”
“Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact,” said Trump, who, except on rare occcasions is usually seen not wearing one. At Tuesday’s briefing, he said he wears a mask “when I need.”
