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USA coronavirus: cases, deaths, stimulus checks and news of 28 October

Update:
A nurse takes a swab sample at a drive-through coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test site at the University of Texas El Paso in El Paso, Texas, U.S., October 27, 2020. REUTERS/Paul Ratje

US live: coronavirus updates today

US coronavirus latest: headlines

- US adds nearly 500,000 cases in a week

- White House press release lists "ending the covid-19 pandemic" among first-term Trump achievements

US covid-19 latest: 20:30 PT / 22:30 ET on Wednesday 28 October (03:30 CET Thurs. 29 October) 

Latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University.

Worldwide

Cases: 44,393,629
Deaths: 1,172,745
Recoveries: 29,985,093

US

Cases: 8,855,180
Deaths: 227,673
Recoveries: 3,518,140

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Senior sources in the British government expect a verdict on whether Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE's COVID-19 vaccine works will be available before AstraZeneca Plc's competing vaccine, the Times reported. Britain believes that Pfizer's vaccine could be ready to distribute before Christmas, the report said.

NFL considering reducing Super Bowl capacity due to Covid-19 concerns

The NFL said on Wednesday it was exploring the possibility of reducing seating capacity to 20% at February's Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida, because of Covid-19. The home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which had been expected to have a capacity crowd of close to 75,000 for the 7 February NFL championship game, would instead host between 13,000 and 15,000 fans, making one of the most sought-after tickets in sport even tougher to find, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

The NFL said it was still refining its plans for the game, a money-making annual media spectacle that attracts thousands of fans to different host cities each year. "There have been 19 teams that have already or have been authorized by public authorities to host regular-season games," a spokesman said. "The average has been around 20% with fans seated in pods and everyone wearing face coverings. Among the scenarios we are exploring is a capacity of around that figure but we anticipate it could grow as we get closer to the game."

 

Child hunger highest in decade due to management of pandemic

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Shares of hotels, airlines and other companies sensitive to covid-19-related curbs dropped with Wynn Resorts down 2% and the S&P 1500 airlines index declining 3%. The energy index lost about 3% as oil prices fell on fears of lower fuel demand.

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Friedman claimed Turner "was mindful of other people", despite the 35-year-old being seen maskless next to colleagues as the Dodgers posed for photos.

I can't state strongly enough how big a role he's played in the success of this organisation,” Friedman told reporters.

"For him, being a free agent, not knowing how the future's going to play out, I don't think there was anyone that was going to stop him from going out.

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Eli Lilly and Co said today it has signed a $375m agreement with the US government to supply 300,000 vials of its experimental antibody drug to treat covid-19.

The agreement is for delivery over the two months following an emergency use authorization if granted by US regulators.

The US government also has the provision to purchase up to an additional 650,000 vials through 30 June 2021, the company said.

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It pains me to think about the callousness of the White House, obviously the pandemic is not over,” Sanders told CNN on Wednesday.

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"If we continue our current behavior, by the time we start to go down the other side of the curve, a half a million people will be dead," Dr Reiner said on Tuesday.

Twenty-nine of the US’ 50 states have reported at least one record single-day case count in October, CNN also noted, citing data gathered by Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University School of Public Health, told the media outlet that the US is in danger of seeing daily infections rise to six figures

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However, after initially being absent from the Dodgers' celebrations, Turner then returned to the field for a team photo, pulling off his mask. Members of the Dodgers were given masks before celebrating.

The team were to receive rapid tests when they returned to their hotel rooms, according to ESPN.

Turner said he felt great and had "no symptoms at all". "Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine," he tweeted. "Can't believe I couldn't be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA."

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A White House press release has listed ending the coronavirus pandemic among the achievements of Donald Trump’s first term as US president.

"Highlights include: ENDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC," a document issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy read. 

It added: "From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry, and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease."

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