The latest on the coronavirus pandemic

By Julia Hollingsworth, Adam Renton and Eoin McSweeney, CNN

Updated 2057 GMT (0457 HKT) November 28, 2020
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4:25 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

US is "rounding the corner into a calamity," expert says, with Covid-19 deaths projected to double soon

From CNN's Christina Maxouris

Medical workers administer Covid-19 tests at a drive-thru testing site in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, November 19.
Medical workers administer Covid-19 tests at a drive-thru testing site in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, November 19. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

As Thanksgiving week draws to an end, more experts are warning the Covid-19 pandemic will likely get much worse in the coming weeks before a possible vaccine begins to offer some relief.

More than 205,000 new cases were reported Friday -- which likely consists of both Thursday and Friday reports in some cases, as at least 20 states did not report Covid-19 numbers on Thanksgiving.

The US has now reported more than 100,000 infections every day for 25 consecutive days and hospitalizations remain at record high levels -- with more than 89,800 patients reported nationwide Friday, according to the COVID Tracking Project. A record was set just a day earlier, with a staggering 90,481 hospitalizations, according to the project. And the nation recorded a daily death toll of less than 1,000 only twice this week -- while the two days prior to Thanksgiving each saw more than 2,000 American deaths reported.

And while there is more good news on the vaccine front, for now Americans need to "hunker down" and prepare for a difficult winter ahead, according to Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

"We cannot let our guard down," she told CNN Friday night. "The vaccines will make a big difference in the spring and the summer; they're not going to make a difference right now."

She also advised anyone who traveled to visit with family and friends or hosted guests outside their immediate household unit to quarantine.

Read the full story here

3:44 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

South Korea reports more than 500 new Covid-19 cases for the third day

From CNN’s Yoonjung Seo in Seoul and Akanksha Sharma in Hong Kong

A medical worker talks to a person waiting in line at a Covid-19 testing station in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, November 28.
A medical worker talks to a person waiting in line at a Covid-19 testing station in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, November 28. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

South Korea reported 504 coronavirus cases on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of more than 500 cases in a row, the nation’s Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced.

Of those, 486 are locally transmitted cases and 18 are imported, added the KDCA.

The new cases bring the national tally to 33,375 coronavirus cases. South Korea also reported six additional coronavirus deaths, taking the national death toll to 522.

The nation’s capital Seoul logged 178 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the City Government. 

Increased restrictions: Seoul has been under Level 2 social distancing measures since Tuesday. 

The rise in cases comes ahead of the country’s national college entrance exam, which nearly 500,000 students are expected to sit.

On Friday, the KDCA urged people to “cancel all meetings” in light of the upsurge in coronavirus cases. 

On Thursday, the Defense Ministry implemented a Level 2.5 social distancing protocol, the second-highest level of alert applicable to all military bases. Under that level, all vacations and off-base travel are suspended, in-person meetings and events are banned, and religious services are switched to online. 

The alert level was announced after a cluster of 68 coronavirus cases was detected at a recruit training centre on Thursday. The Defense Ministry says 20 additional cases were found in the military on Saturday.

Health care: The central government is also in the process of reviewing healthcare protocol for patients suffering from coronavirus, in case of future bed shortages in hospitals. 

On Saturday, the government announced that it completed an initial stage review for providing home care for coronavirus patients with mild symptoms and for children infected with the virus.

Further discussions on the move are ongoing with experts, the government health official added.

2:30 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

Japan reports highest rise in new Covid-19 cases since the outbreak hit

From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo and Akanksha Sharma

Pedestrians wearing protective masks in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Nov. 28.
Pedestrians wearing protective masks in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Nov. 28. Soichiro Koriyama/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Japan reported 2,530 new coronavirus cases for Friday, its highest daily increase of new cases since the pandemic began, the country’s Health Ministry announced on Saturday.

The death toll also inched higher by 23 on Friday, the ministry added.

The new figures take the nationwide total to 142,780 cases, including 2,087 deaths.

Overall, 116,778 patients have been discharged while 435 are critically ill and receiving treatment.

The capital Tokyo has been particularly hard hit. The city logged 570 new cases on Friday, marking its highest daily total so far, according to the Health Ministry.

Tokyo’s total coronavirus case count now stands at 39,649, with 488 deaths.

1:32 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

More than 13 million coronavirus cases have been recorded in the US

From CNN's Alta Spells

A total of at least 13,088,821 Covid-19 cases, including 264,858 deaths, have been reported in the United States during the pandemic so far, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.

On Friday, JHU reported 205,557 new cases and 1,404 new deaths nationwide.

Remember: As CNN previously reported, at least 20 states did not report Covid-19 numbers on Thursday, so Friday's number consists of reporting from both days in some cases.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

CNN's live tracker:

12:50 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

Should you quarantine after Thanksgiving? Yes, CNN's Dr. Leana Wen explains

From CNN's Faye Chiu

Thanksgiving is over. Many people celebrated with just their household unit, but many others did not. In fact, up to 50 million Americans are traveling over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to the American Automobile Association, or AAA.

We talked to CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen about her recommendations on how to keep safe after people return from holiday festivities.

First and foremost, anyone who traveled to visit with family and friends or hosted guests outside their immediate household unit should quarantine, Wen advised.

Taking action to protect others around you will help mitigate the spread of Covid-19, especially with Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's just around the corner.

CNN: Many people took a risk and got together with loved ones for Thanksgiving. Why are you recommending that these people quarantine after they return?

Dr. Leana Wen: Coronavirus is surging all across the country, and there are hotspots in so many areas. Anyone who traveled to another part of the country and got together with other people could be at risk for contracting Covid-19. When they return to their home communities, they could spread it -- to people in their households and to friends, colleagues and any other people around them.

We are facing an impending calamity. Many hospitals are already at the brink. ICUs are full. We all need to do our part and flatten the curve again. And that means knowing when we are at risk to others around us. If you've traveled, and have seen other people, you could pose a risk to your community.

Read more:

12:08 a.m. ET, November 28, 2020

More than two dozen Covid-19 cases were traced to youth basketball at a gym, health officials say

From CNN's Stella Chan and Jason Hanna

More than two dozen people have tested positive for Covid-19 after participating in youth basketball tournaments this month at a gym in Northern California, county health officials said.

Those infected were involved in tournaments Nov. 7-8 at the Courtside Basketball Center in Rocklin, Placer County health officials said this week.

The tournaments took place despite the state's pandemic-related prohibition against youth sports competitions, the county said. Although youth training and conditioning are allowed with distancing and other restrictions, competitions and tournaments are not.

"Unfortunately, Courtside Basketball Center has not been responsive to our outreach over many months," the county's interim health officer, Dr. Rob Oldham, told CNN affiliate KCRA.

The Courtside Basketball Center did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.

Read more:

11:30 p.m. ET, November 27, 2020

Australia’s former Covid-19 epicenter goes 29 days with no new infections

From CNN's Pauline Lockwood

People enjoy the weather at St. Kilda beach on Nov. 27, in Melbourne, Australia.
People enjoy the weather at St. Kilda beach on Nov. 27, in Melbourne, Australia. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The Australian state of Victoria -- once the country’s Covid-19 epicenter -- has gone 29 days with no new infections, the state’s Department of Health announced on Saturday. 

There are also currently no active cases of Covid-19 in the state. 

“All Victorians should feel proud for getting us to this point, but now is not the time to be complacent,” the state’s Department of Health said in a statement on Friday when Victoria reached the symbolic 28-day mark. 

The Department of Health stressed that the fight against Covid-19 is not over in the state as “coronavirus fragments have been detected in a wastewater sample.”

"A real risk remains with arriving interstate travelers or the emergence of new local cases.”
“Our fight against Covid-19 is not over. There are still significant outbreaks happening around the world and we do not yet have an effective vaccine,” the statement says.
9:03 p.m. ET, November 27, 2020

Los Angeles County issues new stay-at-home order and bans all gatherings as Covid-19 cases surge

From CNN's Sarah Moon

All public and private gatherings with people outside a single household will be prohibited for three weeks in Los Angeles County starting Monday to curb an unprecedented spread of coronavirus, the Department of Public Health announced in a news release.

“As new Covid-19 cases remain at alarming levels and the number of people hospitalized continue to increase, a temporary Los Angeles County health officer order will be issued to require additional safety measures across sectors,” the county's health department said Friday. 

The order comes days after the county reported a record number of new Covid-19 infections, the highest number of deaths in months, and increased hospitalizations.

County health officials are urging all residents to stay home as much as possible and to wear face coverings when they are outside, even when exercising at parks and beaches.

While beaches, trails, and parks remain open, only gatherings from a single household will be allowed. Under the new order, playgrounds and cardrooms will also be closed.

According to the news release, the maximum occupancy for essential businesses will be reduced to 30%. Occupancy will be shrink to 20% for nonessential businesses, personal care services, and libraries. Businesses operating outdoors, including fitness centers, zoos, botanical gardens, and batting cages, will be reduced to 50% maximum capacity.

The new health order will be in effect until Dec. 20.

Voluntary compliance: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement to CNN that it will not enforce the order.

“Since the first Stay at Home Order was issued in March of this year, we have focused on education and voluntary compliance, with enforcement measures being an extreme last resort,” the statement said. 
“We trust in the community and rely on people to assess risk and take precautions as appropriate,” they added.
7:29 p.m. ET, November 27, 2020

CDC Covid-19 vaccine advisers call emergency meeting to discuss distribution

From CNN’s John Bonifield and Maggie Fox

Advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called an emergency meeting for Tuesday to vote on who they recommend should be the first to get a coronavirus vaccine once one is authorized.

The CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices wants to have advice out to the public ahead of any decision from the US Food and Drug Administration about emergency authorization of a vaccine, ACIP chair Dr. Jose Romero told CNN.

"We are meeting because the FDA, the Operation Warp Speed, have asked states and other jurisdictions to please submit their plans on Friday of this coming week," Romero said.
"We foresee imminent authorization if this vaccine is shown to be effective and safe in the near future and we want to be at the point where we are providing appropriate guidance to the states and jurisdictions for the use of these vaccines," said Romero, who is Secretary for Health for the Arkansas Department of Health.
"This is not something that is being rushed. We have already discussed the groups within the first tier. We are simply going over the data once again and having a vote primarily on the first tier group 1a -- healthcare providers and the people in the long term, congregate facilities."

ACIP met on Monday to discuss the priority groups for receiving any vaccine that may get emergency use authorization from the FDA. The CDC has already recommended that the first group -- designated as 1a -- should include frontline health providers and support personnel.

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